Support Seans Final Recovery

Sarah Jane Stretchberry is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Sean Cullinane.

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Yesterday, my amazing brother in law, Sean Cullinane, went through his 31st, and final surgery on his leg, an amputation below the knee.

If you know Sean, you know he is the most amazing, father, brother, husband, uncle, brother, son, friend, and neighbor anyone could ask for. If you know Sean well, you also know he has been dealing with a leg injury for close to the last 20 years. Sean has been there for all of us over the years, and now it's our turn to give back to him.

Sean has been blessed in many ways in his life. He is blessed to have found his soul mate, and wife Ada. He was blessed by three of the most amazing children anyone could ask for, Jules, Aidan, and Riley. He was blessed by a big, loving, family including his father John, his mother Bette, and his brothers and sisters, Megan, Beth, Kevin, and Ian. Sean has also been blessed by an infectious personality that has made him many friends in his life. In my case, I have had the honor of becoming Seans sister in law through marriage to his brother Ian. To say that I am lucky to have a brother like Sean would be an understatement.

Unfortunately, Sean has also had pain in his life due to an unrelenting injury he sustained to his leg. It all started in June of 2003 when Sean was struck by a car while he was crossing the street. His leg was damaged severely. The doctors decided the only way to save the leg was to operate and insert a titanium rod into his leg to support the bone. By August of that year, Sean had developed an infection so severe that the titanium rod in his leg snapped (for the first time).

Since then, Sean has had a total of 30 surgeries to repair his leg. He has had titanium rods inserted and fail over and over again, he has re-broken the leg 6 times, and he has suffered infection after infection, leaving him often unable to work to support his family and pay his mounting medical bills. None of these operations have been successful long term and though Sean doesn't often let on, the toll on his overall health, and financial stability has been devastating.

In April of this year Sean, along with his team of doctors, and the counsel of his friends and family, Sean made the impossible decision to amputate his leg. Yesterday, 5/28/21, Sean underwent BKA (below the knee amputation). Seans incision is expected to heal over the course of the next 8 weeks. He is predicted to take an additional 6 months to a year to fully regain the ability to walk through the help of prosthetics. In addition to the physical healing, Sean will need the support of his friends and family to overcome the emotional toll that the loss of his limb will take on him. Though he would rather not admit it, Sean will also need the help of his friends and family to support his family of 5 financially.

Sean is an electrician by trade, and will likely continue to be out of work due to this lengthy recovery. Seans family has amassed over $15,000 in medical bills to date. Bills that they dont know how they will pay for. This number does not include the cost of his 31st surgery (hopefully his last) the amputation he underwent on 5/28/21, or the cost of the prosthetics, the physical therapy, or countless other medical expenses he will incur over the next year.

I believe, like Sean does, that this amputation is a blessing in disguise. An opportunity for Sean to live his life again without fear of the next broken leg, or more incredibly painful infections or surgeries. Sean will learn to walk again through the help of his prosthesis and he will be back in action, spending time with his parents, his brothers and sisters, horsing around with his nieces and nephews, camping and scouting with his sons Aidan and Riley, going on incredible adventures and road trips with his daughter Jules, and dancing the night away at concerts with his wife Ada.

Sean has devoted his life to his family, his friends, and his community. Now it is our turn to support Sean and his family. Please consider giving generously to support Seans final recovery. Seans family will need help with general cost of living in addition to help with paying the mountain of medical bills they are facing.