Excited after amputation – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

(WSVN) – She had cancer and a tumor in her foot. Her insurance company refused to pay for the amputation. She then contacted Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser and got the surgery she desperately needed.

Tina came home with a smile, not thinking about what she had been through, but about us.

Tina Bakr: “How are you?”

Patrick Fraser: “Forget us. How are you doing?”

Tina Bakr: “I’m fine. I’m holding on.”

22 days ago Tina went to the hospital where her leg was amputated.

Tina Bakr: “The pain was unlike anything I have ever felt. It was unbearable.”

But Tina doesn’t concern herself with the negative aspects, only with the positive aspects.

Tina Bakr: “I am very lucky. I had, of course, pain in the stump and other things, other pain that I had before. But I feel much better now.”

However, she should never have lost her leg from the knee down.

Tina Bakr: “And I was informed that it was a synovial sarcoma.”

What started as a bump on Tina’s foot turned out to be cancer and a tumor.

Tina Bakr: “It breaks bones, nerves, tendons. It is very destructive and grows quickly.”

When her superiors found out she had cancer, they fired her.

When her doctor said he had to remove her foot, her insurance declined.

Months passed and the tumor grew.

Tina Bakr: “The tumor wrapped around my ankle. Now it’s too late to walk away. Now I have to have my leg partially removed because of this waiting time.”

Tina appealed the insurance company’s decision when they again denied the amputation and called Help Me Howard. After we contacted the state agency that administers medical assistance, she received approval for the operation.

Tina Bakr: “Oh my God, yes. I praised you every day. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude. This also applies to my family.”

And now, 22 days later, it’s amazing to see someone so happy to be able to use a walker.

Tina Bakr: “Hopping with my little bunny.”

It’s fascinating to hear Tina talk about having to work up the courage to look at the stump she has now.

Tina Bakr: “So the nurse covered my leg and was very gentle with me. She said, ‘I just want you to turn around and look,’ and I looked at it and said, ‘Oh, okay, not that bad.'”

And her warm smile brightened when we brought her some flowers to surprise her.

Tina Bakr: “Oh my God. Like sunflowers are my favorite. Oh thank you. This is wonderful. I can’t believe you guys did that.”

Your attitude is inspiring. She isn’t thinking about living without her leg, but is planning what she will do when she can walk again.

Tina Bakr: “And my prosthesis, I think, should probably be here by Thanksgiving. So I’m waiting to cook and bake for Christmas.”

This was Tina before she got cancer. It has changed her, but it won’t stop her.

Tina Bakr: “I’m very excited because I’ve been sitting here for months just rotting and feeling like I was rotting.”

No longer. She’s lucky she called us. We are glad we met Tina.

Tina Bakr: “And now, thanks to you, the wheels have been set in motion and now everything is moving very quickly, so I’m excited and want my life back.”

A great attitude is so important.

I’ve always believed that if you believe great things will happen to you, they will. Tina is convinced that she will be able to walk soon, and I am sure that she will.

Positive that you have a problem? Don’t let the negativity kill your attitude. Be calm and contact us. Together we can achieve anything.

Helping me here is Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.

CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
Email: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
Miami-Dade: 305-953-WSVN
Broward: 954-761-WSVN

Copyright 2023 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.