My illness has devasted us! Help!
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My name is Rich and this is the hardest letter I have ever written. I live down the shore in Little Egg Harbor NJ, since 1980. I worked for the Post Office for 23 years but became sick/injured and had to retire two years shy of a full pension. My wife and I had a Graphics Business which we started but because of my illness we didn't get to take that very far. I had been in very good shape as I turned my two car garage into a gym. Even though I was in very good shape, lifting light weights doing high reps I still suffered an injury to my shoulder which was operated and fixed well. I then had my right shoulder needing a surgery, but this time my Physician wanted to Scope it, as opposed to "The Open Procedure" that I had done on my left. Many friends, including my former Doctor up in Edison advised me not to have the Scope". My Doctor told me he was following the Insurance Companies Protocol and had to Scope it. I had the surgery, which was done by my Doctor under the instruction of a Licensed Arthroscopic Physician. The surgery turned out to be a nightmare! My Doctor had sutured through the Brachial Plexus Bundle,( which is a Bundle of nerves) and caused me what I call the "Beginning of the Domino effect".I had 3 further surgeries to try and fix the "problem" my Doctor caused but none were successful. I then went to a "Specialist" of the shoulder in Philadelphia who told me afer the surgery that the "scar tissue" was incredible and would return in less than 30 days. He was right! He also told my wife and I that "this would take 20 years or more off my life". We looked at each other in dismay. I could not take the medicines he was giving me because they made me very sick. I chose an alternative "pain relief method" that did work decently. I was taking Corticosteroids, Depomedrol packs, Prednisone, and Shots in the areas where the "nerve damage" was. What was not told to me was the damage that happens when you use them too long. I developed type 2 Diabetes and I now knew what the "Specialist" meant by losing twenty years or more off my life. First I wound up seeing a Podiatrist who was supposed to be a Diabetic Specialist who took out "joints in each toe that he claimed were infected. It then turned to losing my right Big toe with a few others because I was developing Pressure Ulcers". That soon became a waste of time as the pressure ulcers became worse. I sought treatment at Deborah Hospital who advised me that I needed my right foot amputated. Being he was a Vascular Surgeon I was sent back to my Podiatrist. He amputated most of my right foot but low and behold, I wasn't done yet. I had gone to several other Physicians for a second and third opinion, all who either didn't want to "get involved" or agreed with him.Then what was promised wouldn't come back, did, the Pressure Ulcers started now on my Heels. My Podiatrist (Debrided them both one time a week).That's where he takes Necrotic tissue(Dead skin)so new skin would grow. It wasn't working and I then had soft tissue infections in both Heels.Now my visits were 3 times a week. This went on for a long period of time, about 6 months. In total I had been relegated to my home for over 2 years without being allowed to go out except to the Doctors and I could not shower for 6 months. Finally, one nite as I was walking into the kitchen I hear a crack, I thought it was the floor, but when I hit the ground I knew it was my Heel. My Doctor was in Italy so I found a Doctor who saw me right away, only to be told I had Gangrene in both legs and had to get to the Hospital right away. I did, and had emergency surgery on both Heels. Now I've had a machine on both heels to take the fluids out and to prevent Bleeding. I forgot to mention I've been on IV Antibiotics for 27 weeks. I am so behind on all my utilities, not to mention the house, car payments(which sits in the driveway needing $495 worth of brakes) plus I have 4 nurses coming in every week. I have a pension but it does not come close to covering all the co-pays for Doctor visits or the nurses. I have contacted the County's Emergency Response but there is such a long list all my utilities will be shut off, my car will be repossed and food is very scarce. I've been on Face Book, getting something I really needed, which was the "will to keep fighting", and with all the kind people who have sent me prayers I have managed to keep fighting, but my wife is also sick with RA/Lupus and is not able to help as she is on Chemo & Humira, hence the reason for the nurses.I didn't think, never needing this kind of help that things would turn out like this. I lost all my brothers a couple of years back, who were concerned for me, ironic isn't it? I have two boys, 22 and 29 and two neices and a nephew, who have "chipped in" to help, but it seems we are way over our heads and I am not only desperate to keep my faith to hang on, but to see what Ive done, being this sick, to my family destroys me. I know there are so many out there just like me, which makes me feel even more guilty to ask for help, but I have run out of all other options. If you can give, I would appreciate it more than you'll ever know, but I have had so many people pray for me, and I am still here, so maybe there is hope. Thank you for reading my story and God Bless all of you!
Sincerely,
Rich Higgins
Sincerely,
Rich Higgins
Organizer
Richard Higgins
Organizer
Tuckerton, NJ
