An Arizona grandfather is preparing for an above-knee amputation of his right leg after he fell while walking in Bullhead City's extreme 120-degree heat earlier this month. The incident left him with severe burns and heatstroke, according to his family.
Grant Siler, 72, collapsed during an outing on August 3 in Bullhead City. His body temperature subsequently soared to over 105 degrees.
His family shared that Mr. Siler lay on the ground for approximately an hour before a passerby discovered him. He sustained second and third-degree burns across multiple areas of his body, experienced heatstroke, and went into multiple organ shock.
He was subsequently transported to a burn intensive care unit in Las Vegas, where he has been receiving treatment since the event. Upon his arrival at the medical facility, doctors confirmed his severe heatstroke and organ shock.
Information from the family's crowdfunding page indicates Mr. Siler is experiencing constant pain, has limited mobility, and has undergone two debridement procedures. It also stated that he would soon require amputation surgery, with the full extent initially unknown.
During a surgical procedure, a surgeon discovered that the tissue in Mr. Siler’s right leg was so extensively damaged that a full recovery was deemed unlikely, as detailed in an update provided through the family’s fundraising efforts.
Upcoming Amputation and Recovery Challenges
Mr. Siler's right leg is scheduled for an above-knee amputation on August 31.
“The plan now is to have an above-knee amputation. The Dr's feel he will overall heal faster and have better pain control this way,” the family's statement read.
The family also acknowledged the difficult path ahead, stating, “We can all imagine that after any amputation, the road to recovery is long and hard…physically, mentally and emotionally.”
Family Support and Financial Strain
His wife, Vicki, continues to work to manage the family’s financial commitments while making a three-hour round trip daily to be by her husband’s side. The couple is also anticipating substantial medical bills as part of Mr. Siler’s extensive recovery process.
The family has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to help cover expenses such as necessary home renovations, specialized home medical supplies, prosthetic costs, and other unforeseen expenditures.
Heather Crook, Mr. Siler's daughter, shared an anecdote illustrating her father's resilience, recalling a time he dropped an 80-pound cinderblock on his foot and did not even resort to taking Tylenol.
“He's hurting really bad,” Crook explained. “He's the 'get up and walk it off' type.”
She added, “So for him to holler out in pain … it’s really hard to hear. That’s not the kind of person that he is.”
