‘A Different Way Of Living’, Dallas Man Steven Brown Loses Legs After Severe Frostbite During February’s Historic Winter Storm

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – After three days of repeated power outages at his aunt’s home in Dallas during the Arctic storm in February, Steven Brown noticed that something was wrong with his legs.

Steven Brown’s legs were partially amputated after suffering frostbite during the historic February winter storm. (Credit: Texas Health Resources)

“My feet were swollen on me,” he recalls. “I couldn’t walk normally. My ankles locked to the point where I couldn’t bend my knees or stand up. “

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A relative took the 23-year-old to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where Brown learned that his legs were frostbitten and that he had a blood infection. After three days of hospitalization, he had two options – either a long, complicated recovery with many uncertainties or an amputation.

“Either I had an option that I could keep [my legs] and dealing with anything that came with it, or the second option was to have both limbs amputated, so that’s what I went for, ”said Brown. “Other people would probably say damn it, I’ve lost my legs. You would probably have a hard time coping with and dealing with it. … But I can handle it. It’s just a different way of life. “

Brown was unable to return to his aunt’s house due to the living conditions and had no other place to go. Austin Street Center, a Dallas homeless shelter; and CitySquare, a non-profit provider of housing and social assistance.

The 24-month pilot program is funded entirely by donations to the Texas Health Resources Foundation and provides short-term care in a safe environment to qualified homeless or directly homeless men like Brown. Program clients have access to medical care and other social support services, including substance abuse treatment resources and help with finding permanent housing.

“We want to expand to remote communities and other hospital settings because there is such a need,” said Jennifer Hay, MSN, RN, director of the recovery program and emergency room for Texas Health Dallas.

Those who qualify will be placed in a nine-bed unit at Austin Street Center, where they will have health and psychological exams, on-site care from a Texas Health nurse and medical assistant, weekly visits from a Texas Health care professional. Get doctor and medical assistance and education.

“A lot of these gentlemen have chronic diseases – diabetes, high blood pressure, and the like that they’ll have to take medication for the rest of their lives. We even had cancer patients in our recovery program, ”said Hay. “It’s something you can’t do on the street and that could end someone’s life without worry. We offer this additional support so that they can generally better manage their health care and lead a healthier lifestyle. “

Faviola Carroll, a local social worker on Austin Street, is helping clients replace missing identification documents like birth certificates and social security cards and “get many of the basic needs they haven’t had in years” like social security benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program benefits, glasses or dentures .

Another case manager is working on bringing customers back home or, if this is not possible, helping them find an apartment via CitySquare.

Brown had to be transferred to other homeless shelters in Dallas after he was released from hospital in March.

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“Fortunately, that was an option,” he says. “This was the best option available.”

The youngest client to go through the program, Brown turned 24 when he stayed at the shelter. He maintained an optimistic outlook on his future that employees say is contagious.

“He’s very positive. Despite all the falls he’s been through, he still has a smile on his face, ”said Carroll. “It’s great to have this positive transference to our other customers. He brings this positivity every day. “

Steven Brown’s legs were partially amputated after suffering frostbite during the historic February winter storm. (Credit: Texas Health Resources)

As a customer of the program, Brown received his prescription drugs, wheelchair, walker, clothing, meals, and linen. He also received health and prescription drug coverage, a family doctor, and a copy of his birth certificate, and received job help and resources to complete his General Educational Development Test (GED).

The program also included Brown’s transportation to an amputation support group and appointments, including a recent appointment at the Hanger Clinic in Dallas, where Brown received prosthetic legs thanks to the help of another nonprofit, Limbs for Life.

It was there that Brown learned the various steps involved in putting on and taking off his prosthetic leg. Supported by parallel bars, he also took his first steps on his new legs.

He said he was confident that it was only a matter of time before he could walk on his new legs unaided and has set himself the goal of driving again at some point.

Brown recently moved into an apartment via CitySquare and is grateful that Health to Home has given him the resources and support he needs to get it done on his own.

Without her he said, “I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Since taking on the first client in October, the program has helped 24 men.

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(Originally posted 6/29/2021)

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