In July of this year, I spent several hours in the Emergency Room with painful swelling in my ankle. Tests were inconclusive, but I was referred to an orthopedic doctor.

Before that appointment, I went back to the ER with a swollen, bleeding ankle. At this point, the swelling was determined to be a mass, not just fluid. My ankle was bandaged well and I was sent to the original orthopedic appointment.

Due to the bleeding, the orthopedic surgeon scheduled surgery for the next day. The mass was removed and biopsied. At my surgery follow-up appointment, I was referred to an orthopedic oncologist with little explanation.

I was diagnosed with spindle cell synovial sarcoma. It is a rare cancer that affects soft tissue. There are no specific causes or reasons for the development of this type of cancer.

Bad news is the only solution to rid me of this cancer is lower leg amputation. No chemo, no radiation would be effective. Good news, if there was any, CT scans showed no spread of the tumor.

On November 24th, my left leg was amputated below the knee. After a week in the hospital, I was transferred to a rehab facility. I have spent Thanksgiving, my birthday, and Christmas here.

After a month, insurance coverage ended for my stay in rehab. I am not ready to go home. I was forced to apply for Medicaid. I await the decision from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I also await a decision from short-term disability.

I fear that I will be responsible for my own way until I can heal enough for a prosthetic and to return home and to work.