Two years ago, in 2020, life changed for Ian Foster, then 57. At the time, Ian started experiencing health problems and was eventually diagnosed with kidney failure. According to The Mirror, his condition has since progressed and worsened. In 2022, at 59 years old, a doctor diagnosed Ian with calciphylaxis, a condition characterized by skin and fatty tissue necrosis. Calciphylaxis is often, though not always, found in those with kidney failure or kidney problems. This has caused Ian to experience multiple instances of sepsis.

Alongside Ian, his family has also struggled to manage his condition and improve his quality-of-life. Since his original diagnosis of kidney failure, Ian has been sleeping on a medical bed in the living room. Noeleen, Ian’s wife, has slept on a sofa in the same room to do her best to provide for her husband. Unfortunately, shares his family, this has been financially tough since neither Noeleen nor Ian are able to take on a job outside of the house.

Since being diagnosed with calciphylaxis, the family has also struggled with their home’s accessibility. The doors are not big enough to make it easy to move Ian with his wheelchair, and there is not enough room in the home for the family to live comfortably. Natasha, Ian’s daughter, began a GoFundMe to help her parents. Currently, the Foster family is trying to raise £6,000 (approx. $7,497.50) to pursue a home extension which would make the home larger, more accessible, and easier to live in. So far, the GoFundMe has raised £3,485 (approx. $4,804.65) towards its goal.

Natasha hopes that the funds will help give her father a higher quality-of-life as they continue down the path forward. If you would like to help, you can donate to the GoFundMe here.

About Calciphylaxis

According to the Cleveland Clinic, calciphylaxis is:

a rare, painful and deadly disease that is most likely to happen in people with moderate to severe kidney problems. The disease causes calcium deposits to form in your blood vessels and block blood flow, leading to areas where skin and tissue just underneath break down and die.

Calciphylaxis may be uremic (occurring in those with end-stage kidney disease) or non-uremic (in those with kidney injuries, early-stage kidney disease, or no kidney problems). Risk factors include being obese, using Warfarin or corticosteroids, being female, having a liver or autoimmune disease, or being exposed to certain triggers or sensitizers. Symptoms associated with calciphylaxis can include:

• Red, purple, brown, or black lesions with a net-like appearance which may blister or become hardened
• Pain or hypersensitivity in the affected areas
• Calcification of the heart and major blood vessels
• Vision problems
• Internal bleeding and muscle damage from internal calcium deposits
• Deep, painful lumps which ulcerate and create black, scabbed areas that fail to heal properly
• Infections from wounds that do not heal