White House security official lost foot and part of leg battling COVID-19: report
A White House security official has had parts of his feet and lower leg amputated after a battle with COVID-19, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help his rehabilitation efforts.
Organizer Dawn McCrobie said in a message posted on the page that Crede Bailey, the director of the White House's security office, had recovered from COVID-19 but "at a significant cost: his big toe on his left foot as well as his right foot and lower leg had to be amputated."
According to McCrobie's post, Bailey had been in an ICU for three months and was now at a rehabilitation center undergoing physical therapy. The campaign request was increased to help cover the costs of medical bills, medical equipment, and accessibility modifications to his home and car.
"Consider yourself disabled for a moment and look around your house to imagine all the changes necessary to accommodate a disability of this magnitude" McCrobie wrote. "Of course this extends beyond his home and it will be important that he retain his independence."
White House officials did not immediately return a request for comment on the GoFundMe campaign. As of Monday afternoon, supporters had raised more than $36,000 of the $50,000 goal.
Bailey's illness was first reported in early October. He reportedly fell ill and was hospitalized shortly before the Sept. 26 official nomination of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, an event that was later linked to numerous COVID-19 infections within the White House, including President Trump and first lady Melania Trump.