On Monday July 7th, 2025 around 9:15pm my children drove to Auburndale, FL at a truck stop in concern for my health/safety. I had been in my truck trying to make it home from NJ for over a week. Upon their arrival I was in sitting in my truck. They describe me as “Dazed, Confused and sluggish”. My left foot was swollen with fluids coming out of my sock (I had no feeling in my leg). The last thing I remember at that ER is a nurse telling me “Thank God for your children coming to get you.” After rushing me to the ER, it was discovered that I was almost in a Diabetic Coma, my blood sugar was over 700 and I had a flesh eating bacteria streaming through my blood causing my organs to fail. The ER rushed me to the back for emergency surgery to do a flush on my leg, indicating that they were trying to save my leg… After days of being intubated (having breathing tubes down my throat) and the nurses working tirelessly to get my organs back functioning, I was taken off of the sedation and woken up to discuss what to me has been a traumatic event. I discovered that in order to save my life from this flesh eating bacteria they would have to cut my leg off as it was still having an impact on the functioning of my organs. The stubborn part of me didn’t want my leg amputated and ask the Dr’s over and over again is there anything else we can do. They insisted that this was the only option. On Monday 7/14/2025, I had the surgery to amputate my leg blow the knee. This has been a serious life adjustment for me. I am having to relearn everything and how to maneuver life differently. I have been trying to stay strong and understand that God has bigger plans for me and he wasn’t ready for me just yet. The mental toll this has taken on me has probably been the hardest part. I was embarrassed and afraid that my friends, family and colleagues wouldn’t accept me this way. I have been a truck driver for over 30 years and an independent contractor for the last 10 years. Unfortunately at the time of this medical emergency, I had been battling depression for quite some time and hid it from those closest to me. I did not have any medical insurance, so I entered the ER as an Uninsured Individual. They were able to get me covered by hillsborough county insurance, but that insurance has limitations. As I sit in a rehab facility I learned that, hillsborough county insurance only covers up to 45 days and unfortunately these 45 days are coming to an end soon and I need more time to recover. Not only do I need more time to recover I also need a prosthetic and equipment to help me get through my day to day activities. So with my pride aside I am asking for help. Since getting my leg amputated I am now unable to drive and currently unemployed. I am asking for financial help to cover, additional stays at the rehab facility, a knee scooter, wheel chair and hopefully enough to purchase a prosthetic and other necessities. Anything is appreciated and I am thankful for all the prayers, calls and concerns.