On December 5, 2024, I went to Banner Del Webb Medical Center in Sun City seeking help because I no longer knew where to turn. My new podiatrist at The CORE Institute had recommended that I return to Banner University Medical Center, but after my previous experiences, I did not feel comfortable going back there. I was desperate for answers and wanted to find a provider who could help me understand my options.
While at Banner Del Webb, I met with a physician assistant who took the time to listen to my concerns and review my situation. Recognizing the complexity of my case, he helped connect me with an orthopedic surgeon at The CORE Institute.
On December 16, 2024, I met with that orthopedic surgeon. That appointment became one of the most important moments in my medical journey.
For nearly two hours, she sat with my mother and I, listening to our concerns, reviewing my medical history, and discussing my condition in detail. For the first time in a long time, I felt heard. She listened not only to the medical facts, but also to how I was feeling, what I had been through, and what I wanted for my future.
She treated me as a person, not just a patient. She answered my questions honestly, explained my options, and showed genuine compassion during one of the most difficult periods of my life. After months of uncertainty, frustration, and fear, I finally felt that someone truly cared and was committed to helping me make the best decision for my health and quality of life.
That appointment restored something I had been losing throughout my medical journey: trust. It was the beginning of a new chapter and ultimately led me toward the care and support I needed to move forward. Before making a final decision about amputation, my mother and I spoke with the Client Care Coordinator at Hanger Clinic to better understand what life as an amputee would look like and what options might be available if I chose that path.
At the same time, my medical team discussed the possibility of continuing aggressive treatment in an attempt to save my leg. One option was to return to IV antibiotics through a PICC line for an additional 12 weeks with a stronger antibiotic regimen. However, there was no guarantee that the infection would be eliminated, and even after months of treatment, I could still face amputation if the infection continued to spread or return.
If the infection could be controlled, another option involved a complex limb-salvage procedure. This would have required removing the damaged portions of my ankle and reconstructing the joint using metal implants, including an artificial ankle joint and a rod extending into my leg. While this approach offered the possibility of preserving my leg, it would have involved additional major surgeries, a lengthy recovery, and significant uncertainty regarding long-term outcomes.
For my family and me, these were incredibly difficult decisions. We had to weigh the possibility of continued infection, repeated surgeries, ongoing pain, and uncertain results against the possibility of amputation and starting over with a prosthetic limb.
After nearly two years of surgeries, hospitalizations, infections, wound care, IV antibiotics, and setbacks, I found myself facing one of the hardest decisions of my life: continue trying to save my leg or choose amputation in hopes of regaining my health, mobility, and quality of life.
My Journey Becoming an RBK Amputee 