Movement is one of the keys to independence. After fearing he might lose his foot, 74-year-old Dwight Kendall walks independently again thanks to the care he received at JRMC’s Advanced Wound and Hyperbaric Center.
With diabetic complications costing Dwight his big toe and left him fighting a wound that would not heal, he sought additional care at our JRMC Specialty Clinic.
Dwight began his care at JRMC with Dr. Spencer Arndt, foot and ankle surgeon. “Dr. Arndt told me there was a good possibility that they may have to amputate my foot,” says Dwight. “That got my attention.”
At that point, Dr. Arndt connected Dwight with JRMC’s Advanced Wound and Hyperbaric Center — a turning point in his recovery.
Dwight committed to daily hyperbaric oxygen treatments and weekly visits with the wound team. They taught him how to properly manage his dressings and emphasized the importance of controlling his diabetes through diet and blood sugar management.
“The wound clinic helped me understand that healing is teamwork,” Dwight says. “They could do their part, but I had to follow the instructions too. I listened because I wanted to heal.”
Just 13 weeks after learning that he might lose his foot, Dwight walked on his own once again. His care team determined his foot was healed and he was ready to ring the bell.
“Every person treated me like it was their own foot that needed to heal,” he remembers. “They wanted to beat the problem just as much as I did.”
Today, Dwight spends time with his wife and family without relying on a wheelchair or scooter. He remains grateful to our JRMC team that helped him regain both his mobility and independence.
As seen in the Summer 2026 issue of AppleSeeds.