My Leg, My Hernia

May 3, 2010


I am writing this note to share some information about my health and let my friends know how I am doing and what I need to do next, and how everyone can participate in this challenge I face.

I have had varicose veins in my right leg since I was in my 20’s but it didn’t bother me, so I didn’t really think about it too much; as time has passed (about 23 years) this has become a big problem. I have edema in my right leg and the area below the knee has vein failure, leading to venous ulcers in the leg. During the past year I and I have found how serious and painful these ulcers are. Last spring one of the ulcers got out of control and quickly grew to be the diameter of a golf ball, with about ¼ of an inch of depth. Sometimes it hurt so bad I couldn’t think straight. I didn’t know how to take care of it and I spent a couple of months taking a lot of extra ibuprofen and kept it covered with a bandage hoping for it to heal. Finally, I went to a doctor and later, I started seeing a vascular surgeon; with his guidance I was able to get the wound to heal. Now that the wound has healed, I am keeping the edema down with support stockings and bandages; I also walk in the morning for at least 30 minutes, if time allows I can go again in the afternoon. This is helping a lot to keep blood circulating in my leg. The underlying varicose veins condition remains though, and I have to be very careful not to let an ulcer get out of hand and go through another long, painful healing process. I also have an umbilical hernia that needs to be cared for. I can’t ignore these medical issues anymore, I need to get an “overhaul” so to speak, and I am planning to go to a local hospital and have the varicose veins removed, and get the hernia fixed. Maybe when this is all finished I can get some pinstripes and flames tattooed on my thighs.

Ok, no more jokes….

I have insurance, but because I am working at the Ensenada operating location I need to pay first and then submit a claim and get a refund . This is going to cost about 8 thousand dollars to pay for the 2 procedures, hospital stay, and anesthesia. After all this I will then have to spend several weeks being careful to not lift anything or strain my muscles. I think this will be the hardest part of the whole process. I like to actually do things more than tell people to do them! But, I am excited about getting healthy again and being able to continue the work I am doing at the Ensenada Mexico YWAM base. It is truly a blessing to be here with my family, and especially to work together with my wife Misty.

So, I need to raise 8 thousand dollars, and I am asking for help to get the money to get fixed. I know that not everyone can give, but everyone can pray! And if you can give, then that would be great too!

Pray: that the leg will stay healthy enough to do the operation, and that the money to pay for it will come in. Also, pray that we will have sufficient volunteers to come and help while I am recovering from the surgeries. If you want to give financially, you can send a check to the address provided; please put a separate note on the check letting the finance office know it’s for William Moss. You can also go to the staff pages on the YWAM San Diego Baja website and click on the donate button to give electronically, what could be more easy than that? Here is the web address for my staff page.

http://www.ywamsandiegobaja.org/page.aspx?page_id=2072&title=Moss Family Adventure&menu=staffstu&type=Staff



Mailing Address:

YWAM San Diego Baja

Finance Office

100 West 35th Street Suite “C”

National City, CA 91950



Thank you for your consideration.

Bill Moss

Bill.moss@ywamsdb.org