there for him.”

stayed on top of the case and helped him all the way through.

“It started with poor circulation in my foot and that went on for a month,” said Dear. “I do have sugar (diabetes). Then my toe got sore with an ingrown toenail. I went to the foot doctor and he took my big toe nail to get some relief. But with bad circulation it never did heal. It got worse and the only thing left was to amputate my leg.”

The ramp enables him to live life at home with his family. A home health care nurse paid a weekly visit Tuesday morning during the interview. Without the ramp Dear would have to convalesce somewhere else.

“Without the ramp I couldn’t get up into the house,” said Dear. “My wife can’t get me out without it.”

Gloria Gilliam, spokeswoman for EAFHC, confirmed the gift and said the wheel chair access into Mr. Dear’s house was kept a surprise.

“He didn’t know about it when he got out of the hospital,” said Gilliam. “He went for the hospital to rehab. So when he got home we had the ramp

there for him.”