The Need
In April Tim Vanderklok woke up early in the morning with what he thought was a severe leg cramp. The pain was so severe that he went to the ER. He had to have emergency exploration surgery as a CT scan had showed his muscles were swelling severely. He had both Staph and MRSA Infections with Necrotizing Fasciitis (Flesh Eating Disease). He was admitted immediately to the ICU where the surgical team tried frantically to save the leg with heavy antibiotics and 7 surgeries in 11 days, trying to take out the dead tissue. Tim is a type 1 diabetic, so fighting any ailment is already a challenge. Finally, the team told him his leg had to go, or he would surely die. Tim's right leg was amputated above the knee.
He was in the Hospital for 30 days and is now home learning his new normal along side his wife, daughters, family and friends. Money raised from this campaign will go towards his prosthetic leg and other mobility aids.
Please consider a shirt purchase or a donation to his online fundraiser to help.
The Artist
Adam Zyglis is the Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for The Buffalo News, where he has been on staff for the past 19 years. Since then, he has become internationally syndicated and appeared in publications around the world, such as The Washington Post, USA Today, Newsweek, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and MAD magazine. As a Buffalo native, he has recently enjoyed creating various murals around the city, and wrote and illustrated the popular book, "You Know You’re From Buffalo If…"
The Sponsor
Firth Jewelers is located at 2435 Military Road in Niagara Falls... Just minutes from the Fashion Outlets. Check them out on Facebook or give them a call: (716) 297-2210.