The Kankle Chronicles: The Next Chapter

The most important aspect of this entire process:

You! Thank you all so much for your love and support through all of this. Not just financial support, but the love, kindness, and encouragement that you’ve all shown me. I will never be able to thank you enough- just know that I feel all of your thoughts, prayers, good vibes, and positive energies. It is because of YOU that I have less stress about the costs to come, am

able to tackle this head on, and will succeed.

Thank you… from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Update:

Hi, All-

I had my procedure on December 11th, 2023 and all went extremely well! Surgery was on a Monday and I was home on Tuesday. I feel like I am doing extremely well, all things considered. I have been in good spirits and am so happy with my decision. My biggest fear pre-op was waking up and regretting my decision…

I had my first post-op follow up on December 18th and seeing my actual incisions was more of a challenge- everything was wrapped and bandaged for that first week. I love wound care and seeing origin injuries, x-rays, and the wound itself, however that is very different when it’s you that you’re looking at. I still did not regret my decision in those moments, but it was a shock to the system in a different way that my leg was gone.

You can read more about my accident below, but I feel like I grieved that leg a long time ago. After my accident and several surgeries, my left lower leg was not

mine. It didn’t function like it did pre-injury, it was atrophied and painful… it didn’t allow me to participate in life the way I once did or wanted to… I believe that has helped in this process.

While this was my decision- a heavy decision- it was still and will remain to be a challenge. I am in good spirits, happy with my decision, excited about my future and I am exhausted, frustrated, and sad at times… however, I am doing well! I refuse to quit and I am focused on where I will go from here.

“Say you can and you will!”

My Story:

Hello,

As many know, I was in a life-changing accident on September 2nd, 2017… The Kankle Chronicles. It’s been a long journey; a roller coaster of both awful and moments of growth. After 6 surgeries in total, the next chapter includes a below knee amputation (BKA). This was a big decision that has weighed heavily on not only myself, but my family… I feel good about this decision, but with it comes some

additional stresses.

While this injury fell under Worker’s Compensation, a system that needs a major overhaul (on my to do list at some point), that is no longer the case. With this major surgery, there will be additional, large medical bills, the need for additional equipment in our home, a wheelchair that will allow me to get back to work and my students ASAP, a prosthetic and all of the rehabilitation that comes along with it.

While I wish I could do it all on my own, my family has encouraged me to start a GoFundMe to help ease some stress in this process. They (Mom, Dad, and Kels, along with Daniel Martin) have been instrumental throughout the past 6 years and continue to be, including allowing and supporting me in asking for help during this time.

I do have insurance coverage, but due to the nature of my injury and ongoing surgical procedures, there will be potentially large out-of-pocket costs. The average cost for amputation can range between $30,000 - $60,000. Furthermore, given the nature of my work and the desire to increase my quality of life through exercise and activity, playing sports and getting back to "me," the Prosthetist I am working with suggests a "daily" prosthetic and an "active" one to be able to do all the things that I have missed out on over the past 6 years. Prosthetics alone can range from $10,000-$100,000.

Any funds raised will be put towards my health and rehab. I also would like to donate any funds not used throughout the rehabilitation process (if there are additional funds) to someone else in need… an organization that supports amputees… something to benefit someone else and share the love and support that I have received from each of you… every single person that’s been along for the Kankle Chronicles.

Your support means the world to me- letting me vent, share my story, and process while sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Thank you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Sam

The Kankle Chronicles

Downloadable Flyer for sharing HERE