Benefit Planned For Bourbon Man To Defray Medical Expenses
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Benefit Planned For Bourbon Man To Defray Medical Expenses
By Jennifer [email protected]
There is a 50-percent chance he will lose his left leg.
He is scheduled to have a sixth surgery today at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, for an infection that has developed below his right-knee amputation.[[In-content Ad]]The 45-year-old Bourbon resident used to love to drive his pickup truck, work in his yard and do roofing jobs. Now that he has lost his right leg, he can't do any of those things.
He is married to Patresa and has a son, Courtney Knisley, 25, and two stepsons, Dustin, 18, and Boe Ford, 20.
A benefit will be Oct. 10 at Bourbon Park Pavilion from noon to 5 p.m. to help raise funds for Hunter's medical expenses. Funds also will be collected to help him pay taxes on his home so he doesn't lose the house.
The benefit will include a raffle and auction where his 1998 GMC pickup truck will be auctioned off. The benefit also will include a bake sale, chili dinner and karaoke.
It all began for Tag in July 2008.
Hunter was driving down the road and started feeling lightheaded, nauseous and disoriented. His mother-in-law, Patricia Hensley, suggested he go to Lifeline to get tested.
Doctors informed him his right carotid artery was 75 percent blocked and his left carotid artery was 30 percent blocked with plaque.
His family doctor referred him to a surgeon in South Bend for a stress test on his heart and legs and a doppler reading on his carotid artery.
He was diagnosed July 22, 2008, with aorta iliac disease at Memorial Hospital.
He had his first of six surgeries Aug. 13, 2008, a carotid artery surgery.
During his recovery time, he was self-employed doing roofing and siding work. Because of his medical problems, he no longer works.
He had a second surgery July 22, an aortobifemoral bypass, to install an artificial artery to connect his heart to the iliac artery in his legs to allow circulation. After coming out of the surgery and waiting in the recovery room, he found out he had to go back into surgery.
He had two arteriograms after coming out of the other two surgeries.
"My right leg was white from the knee down to my foot - just stone white and extremely cold," Hunter said.
He had an angioplasty to look for blood clots in his leg and clean out his veins. He then had another angioplasty that found blood clots in his right foot.
"The plaque that was in my leg actually broke loose and had gotten inside my veins in my foot," Hunter said.
He said the pain in his foot was so excruciating that he ended up with gangrene in the tips of his toes. He admitted himself back into the hospital and an orthopedic surgeon was called in to Memorial Hospital.
Hunter was informed he would need to have his right foot and leg amputated to remove the gangrene that was getting into his blood stream.
"I was told if I had waited five more days to have my leg removed that I could have died," Hunter said.
He had a below-the-knee cap amputation, where eight inches above his ankle were amputated.
When asked what has kept him strong through his trials, he said God, his family and friends.
"I have to keep going and can't let losing my right leg get me down," Hunter said.
Hunter is no longer working while recovering from his surgeries, and medical bills are piling up. He purchased a house before his surgeries, thinking he would continue to be able to work after his surgeries.
He has Medicaid disability, and filed for Social Security, but was denied. He gets around using crutches and a wheelchair.
A carwash fundraiser was Sept. 12 in Warsaw where $216.95 was raised. His goal is to have $3,800 raised to help pay for taxes on his home and cover medical expenses.
Patresa said she was laid off from her job and has been unemployed since Aug. 27. She helps her husband get dressed everyday and drives him to doctor's appointments and surgeries.
"It's been rough getting used to the fact my husband doesn't have a right leg, in addition to household duties," Patresa said.
She said the couple have been busy collecting donations from local businesses that will be auctioned off at the benefit.
Hunter's sister-in-law Danette, and brother, Rocky, Warsaw, who are raising a handicapped adopted son Erik, 4, said their family has been through a lot.
Danette said Hunter is the kind of man who doesn't ask for help, and would offer his shirt off his back.
An account at Teacher's Credit Union has been opened under Hunter's name. Donations are accepted at any branch location. People wanting to donate baked good for the benefit or donate auction items can call Danette Hunter at 574-269-5128.
There is a 50-percent chance he will lose his left leg.
He is scheduled to have a sixth surgery today at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, for an infection that has developed below his right-knee amputation.[[In-content Ad]]The 45-year-old Bourbon resident used to love to drive his pickup truck, work in his yard and do roofing jobs. Now that he has lost his right leg, he can't do any of those things.
He is married to Patresa and has a son, Courtney Knisley, 25, and two stepsons, Dustin, 18, and Boe Ford, 20.
A benefit will be Oct. 10 at Bourbon Park Pavilion from noon to 5 p.m. to help raise funds for Hunter's medical expenses. Funds also will be collected to help him pay taxes on his home so he doesn't lose the house.
The benefit will include a raffle and auction where his 1998 GMC pickup truck will be auctioned off. The benefit also will include a bake sale, chili dinner and karaoke.
It all began for Tag in July 2008.
Hunter was driving down the road and started feeling lightheaded, nauseous and disoriented. His mother-in-law, Patricia Hensley, suggested he go to Lifeline to get tested.
Doctors informed him his right carotid artery was 75 percent blocked and his left carotid artery was 30 percent blocked with plaque.
His family doctor referred him to a surgeon in South Bend for a stress test on his heart and legs and a doppler reading on his carotid artery.
He was diagnosed July 22, 2008, with aorta iliac disease at Memorial Hospital.
He had his first of six surgeries Aug. 13, 2008, a carotid artery surgery.
During his recovery time, he was self-employed doing roofing and siding work. Because of his medical problems, he no longer works.
He had a second surgery July 22, an aortobifemoral bypass, to install an artificial artery to connect his heart to the iliac artery in his legs to allow circulation. After coming out of the surgery and waiting in the recovery room, he found out he had to go back into surgery.
He had two arteriograms after coming out of the other two surgeries.
"My right leg was white from the knee down to my foot - just stone white and extremely cold," Hunter said.
He had an angioplasty to look for blood clots in his leg and clean out his veins. He then had another angioplasty that found blood clots in his right foot.
"The plaque that was in my leg actually broke loose and had gotten inside my veins in my foot," Hunter said.
He said the pain in his foot was so excruciating that he ended up with gangrene in the tips of his toes. He admitted himself back into the hospital and an orthopedic surgeon was called in to Memorial Hospital.
Hunter was informed he would need to have his right foot and leg amputated to remove the gangrene that was getting into his blood stream.
"I was told if I had waited five more days to have my leg removed that I could have died," Hunter said.
He had a below-the-knee cap amputation, where eight inches above his ankle were amputated.
When asked what has kept him strong through his trials, he said God, his family and friends.
"I have to keep going and can't let losing my right leg get me down," Hunter said.
Hunter is no longer working while recovering from his surgeries, and medical bills are piling up. He purchased a house before his surgeries, thinking he would continue to be able to work after his surgeries.
He has Medicaid disability, and filed for Social Security, but was denied. He gets around using crutches and a wheelchair.
A carwash fundraiser was Sept. 12 in Warsaw where $216.95 was raised. His goal is to have $3,800 raised to help pay for taxes on his home and cover medical expenses.
Patresa said she was laid off from her job and has been unemployed since Aug. 27. She helps her husband get dressed everyday and drives him to doctor's appointments and surgeries.
"It's been rough getting used to the fact my husband doesn't have a right leg, in addition to household duties," Patresa said.
She said the couple have been busy collecting donations from local businesses that will be auctioned off at the benefit.
Hunter's sister-in-law Danette, and brother, Rocky, Warsaw, who are raising a handicapped adopted son Erik, 4, said their family has been through a lot.
Danette said Hunter is the kind of man who doesn't ask for help, and would offer his shirt off his back.
An account at Teacher's Credit Union has been opened under Hunter's name. Donations are accepted at any branch location. People wanting to donate baked good for the benefit or donate auction items can call Danette Hunter at 574-269-5128.
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