To all my family, friends, and unknown angels who walk among us,

Anyone who knows me knows that this is the absolute last thing I want to do. However, Plans A, B, C, all the way to Z have led me here. I hate to ask this, but my family has reached a breaking point, and we are out of ideas.

Frankly, I don’t know where to start. Everyone says to “Start at the beginning,” but I am not sure where that even is anymore. Most everyone knows that, since being a teenager, I have struggled with “loose joints,” which resulted in numerous knee surgeries to try to keep my knees from dislocating. Several years ago I had to have my right knee replaced. Just when life seemed to be back on track, I fell at Worlds of Fun and broke my right leg. This resulted in additional surgeries In total, I’ve had over 20 surgeries. Because of all the surgeries I have had on both knees, but currently my right knee specifically, I have a lot of “hardware” in my right leg. At times, I believe I’m a walking Ace TruValue Hardware store. While the hardware has its positives (it’s allowed me to walk and live a normal life) it is currently showing its downsides. Because the hardware is foreign to the body, it is like a magnet attracting bacteria like moths to a flame.

Two years ago, Kato, our German Sheperd, tripped me as I was going downstairs. That fall saved my life. I ended up in the hospital for a quadricep surgery, and while the surgeon was in there, he discovered infection. I was in the hospital for several days and then on IV antibiotics for 40 days. It appeared to be healed, and we moved on to face the normal ups and downs of life.

Six months ago, right knee pain started rearing its ugly head again. A bump appeared. I went to see the doctor, and lo and behold, the same infection from two years ago had reappeared. It was treated with antibiotics again, and again, we thought I had beaten the infection.

About two weeks ago, though, I again started experiencing extreme pain in my right knee. It was swollen, and another bump like the one before appeared. This time, though, the bump burst before the antibiotics could treat it. I was put on two different antibiotics, but neither worked. On Friday, January 24, 2025, the doctor ordered an ultrasound which found a large abscess. On Monday, January 30th, I went into the doctor’s office where the abscess was lanced and drained. Again, it seemed that I was on the road to recovery. I was not.

Late Thursday afternoon, the doctor’s office called and told me I needed to get to the hospital as soon as possible because the infection was much worse than originally believed. I was going to need surgery. Because I needed to work, I asked if the surgery could be postponed until this week, but I was told that I would likely be septic if I waited.

Surgery was supposed to be “simple.” It was not. First, while scheduled for Friday afternoon, it had to be postponed until Saturday morning because of power outages. Then, once I was finally in surgery, it was just supposed to be a “clean out” where the surgeon would go in and clean out the infection. That didn’t happen. Instead, the surgeon saw how severe the infection was and had to remove the hardware that was placed to fix my broken leg after the fall at Worlds of Fun. There was too much infection on the hardware for it to safely stay. Because of all my previous surgeries, that hardware will not be replaced. I’m still grateful, though, because I still have my leg.

Unfortunately, doctors are still trying to identify the type of infection I have. I likely have osteomyelitis and one other bacterial infection. It is also possible that I may need a second surgery where the surgeon will have to remove the hardware from my right knee replacement. Status at this time is that I have a wound vac on my right knee for the next two weeks and I will be on IV antibiotics for at least 6 weeks. I will be having a PICC line placed so that, hopefully, I will not be in the hospital for that entire time.

This is where I am asking for your help. I am a speech facilitator at a local school. The school has been absolutely amazing in working with me to get through this. I love the kiddoes I work with; they are an absolute inspiration each and every day.

However, if I am not at work, I don’t get paid . They don’t offer pto or sick leave. I am also not able to work while I have the wound vac on my knee. If it was just me, I would continue to try to find another way to push through. However, I am not the only one at home experiencing medical issues. All three of the kids are experiencing health issues of their own. Out of respect for their privacy, I do not want to detail their conditions here.

Because finances are tight, I am asking for help: financial or otherwise. I HATE that it has come to this, but until I can, literally, get on my feet again and return to work, we need to find a way to pay our bills because the bills do not stop just because I am not able to work. If you are not able to help financially, we completely understand. Instead, forwarding or sharing this, sending positive thoughts or get well cards, or even other potential ideas on what we can do to meet our financial obligations are all just as appreciated. We would not have made it this far without your love and support.

One of Mom’s favorite Bible verses was: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5. I’ll admit, with all the hits we have taken I’m having a hard time trusting. This has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Thank you all for being a part of our lives. We love you.