Diabetes already took Saanich resident Bob GilbertB次元官网网址檚 right leg. Now itB次元官网网址檚 threatening to leave the 60-year-old with no legs.

On his red electric scooter, often carrying bags of empties, Gilbert is a common sight in the Quadra-Cedar Hill neighbourhood.

An ex-stockbroker and floor trader of 20 years in the Vancouver Stock Exchange, Gilbert now shares a two-bedroom apartment with another couple across the road from Rutledge Park. Diabetes forced him to have his right leg amputated from below the knee eight years ago, an affliction the result of poor decisions in his past life.

Despite a nagging diabetic ulcer on his toe, the type doctors like to amputate, the community has rallied to give Gilbert new hope.

GilbertB次元官网网址檚 retained his left leg through consistent treatments in a hyperbaric chamber but heB次元官网网址檚 in desperate need of more, he said. His wealth, or what was left of it, is gone. A self-made millionaire by 25, broke, then a millionaire again by 30, Gilbert spent his last dollars at the HOC Hyperbaric Care Centre in Victoria, which is no longer in operation.

B次元官网网址淚 was a regular, I had extensive treatments there, spent all my money saving my life,B次元官网网址� Gilbert said. B次元官网网址淚 even volunteered there.B次元官网网址�

There are no hyperbaric treatments offered locally through the provincial health care system, though Health Canada does recognize hyperbaric oxygen treatment for its enhancement of healing for wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers.

B次元官网网址淸With hyperbaric treatment] IB次元官网网址檝e managed for eight years to keep infection out of my left leg,B次元官网网址� Gilbert said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had this ulcer [in my toe] for the last two years. I had hyperbaric treatment last summer, it went away but [without treatments since] itB次元官网网址檚 come back again.B次元官网网址�

The nearest clinic on Vancouver Island is now the Oceanside Hyperbaric lab in Parksville, which charges $100 per hour ($150 less for double occupancy). He did manage to get some treatments in 2016.

However, thanks to a fundraising campaign started at the Roundhouse coffee shop at the corner of Inverness and Cloverdale (next door to his building), Gilbert is hoping to start a new round of therapy and save his foot.

Knowing GilbertB次元官网网址檚 humble disposition, Roundhouse owner Kelly Miller-Gerlach conspired with a group of Saturday morning regulars known as B次元官网网址渢he dog walkersB次元官网网址� to surprise Gilbert with a , Save BobB次元官网网址檚 Leg. They even B次元官网网址榯rickedB次元官网网址� Gilbert to get a photo of him.

B次元官网网址淸Gilbert] knows them all, and we thought, what the hell, letB次元官网网址檚 do a Gofundme Page,B次元官网网址� Miller-Gerlach said.

B次元官网网址淚t makes me feel like IB次元官网网址檓 living in a small town again,B次元官网网址� Gilbert said. B次元官网网址淟iving in the city is anonymous, but in this community, this is the hub. You get to know people and it feels good, like a small town.B次元官网网址�

Gilbert even has his first two sessions booked for this week, and is grateful for the chance to retain his foot.

B次元官网网址淒octors wanted to take some pieces off my foot again, and I know what happens,B次元官网网址� Gilbert said. B次元官网网址淚t starts with the toe. IB次元官网网址檝e already lost a little toe, but it starts with the big toe, then the other toe has to compensate, it takes the weight and soon it gets infected and then they want to take your foot off.

B次元官网网址淸Last year] I disagreed, I cured it, and I showed them. I got [the wound] to the point where it closed over.B次元官网网址�

The problems started from a lack of care with his body, Gilbert said. Along with being a successful stockbroker came the trappings.

B次元官网网址淚 got involved with booze and drugs, I screwed up my life and my body. It was easy to do. YouB次元官网网址檙e off at 1 p.m. in the afternoon and youB次元官网网址檙e in the bar. You have money, youB次元官网网址檙e young, you get the girls, and itB次元官网网址檚 just partying.

B次元官网网址淎ll this was fun but IB次元官网网址檓 certainly a lot happier. IB次元官网网址檝e done what I want to do in life, IB次元官网网址檝e got no pressure, I have a good place to live, IB次元官网网址檝e got enough to eat, IB次元官网网址檝e got some good friends and IB次元官网网址檓 my own boss, [collecting empty bottles and cans ] when I want.B次元官网网址�

Donations of empties are accepted at the Queens Avenue Bottle Depot under the account Bottles for Bob (624).

reporter@saanichnews.com