Gary’s phantom pains were a problem.

Suffering for years after losing his left leg, Gary finally found a clinical trial. Trouble was, the trial was in Winston-Salem, hours from his Alabama home.

Gary is a down-to-earth, friendly 44-year-old single parent of two children. He’s most comfortable clad in camoflauge shorts and a baseball cap. Years ago, before his accident, he enjoyed his three jobs, including one at a large defense technology company.

Twelve years ago, his life came to a screeching halt when a workplace accident left Gary pinned under 5-tons of steel for three hours. He was hospitalized for two years while doctors tried unsuccessfully to save his left leg.

As a result of losing his leg, Gary developed chronic phantom pains. In the middle of a deep sleep, Gary would often wake up screaming. There were times when he couldn’t sleep for weeks at a time.

In desperation, Gary signed up to take part in a clinical trial on phantom pain therapies right here in Winston-Salem. Soon, he made the seven-hour trip from his home in Ohatchee, Alabama to North Carolina.

“My first visit my kids and I slept in our car because we couldn’t afford a motel. I only had enough money to get home. The next day we drove back to Alabama on 1 hour of sleep.”

Thankfully, he found the Family House.

Thanks to donors like you, Gary and his kids didn’t have to worry about a place to sleep, food to eat, or transportation. Your support gave Gary peace of mind. He could care for his kids while participating in the study that implanted a computer in his body which is designed to block his phantom pains.

Today Gary is pain free for the first time in 12 years! He can finally lie down at night and not worry about waking up in agony, or suffer in bed all day. He can now focus on creating the life he imagined for his kids.

Do you have your own story from staying, volunteering, or donating to the Family House?  Share yours here.