It would be easy when attending Gray’s City Council meetings to miss the challenges Mayor Ed Barbee contends with as he sits behind the podium and conducts the monthly business meetings.
A closer look reveals the complete lack of fingers on his left hand and missing fingers above the first knuckle on his right hand. Somehow, he is now able to walk into the room and take his seat up the steps without assistance, despite missing two-thirds of both of his feet.
The progress the mayor has made over the past year is incredible to everyone but Ed. The former Marine stated in an interview in August of 2023 that he would be back. Barbee said the only question was what that would look like.
He was back conducting council meetings in October of 2023, driven to the meetings by his sons. Now he drives himself.
It is notable that Ed celebrated his 80th birthday in April.
In less than 14 months, the mayor went from a hospital bed to a recliner, from a wheelchair to an electric wheelchair and transport chair, to a walker (both upright and rollator) and now for not too lengthy walks, no assistance.
He started driving in February.
Mobility is one thing, but feeding and personal care are quite another without fingers.
Barbee focuses on each task until he figures out how he can do it himself.
“It’s the little things that make me crazy,” he said.
Ed’s wife Ruth said a good example is the twist ties on a loaf of bread. He can do everything else to make a sandwich, but he is still working on the twist ties.
Barbee recently said the day he was able to put on his own socks was a really good day.
When it came time to plan to attend the Georgia Municipal Association Conference in Savannah a few of weeks ago, Barbee decided it was time to regain his independence and made plans to go without Ruth.
He deliberated carefully about what he needed to take, studied the schedule to determine the occasions he might need the rollator and made the solo trip June 20 successfully. The mayor did make the concession of a handicapped room after some urging.
After months of attempting to get shoes made by a private company and having to pay for them out of pocket, Barbee now has a group of medical professionals working with him at the Veterans Administration.
The mayor said he had starting enrolling with the VA before all this happened. He said a VA representative came to a meeting of the Middle Georgia Detachment 970 Marine Corps League early in 2023.
Barbee said he really liked the representative and had traveled to Griffin to start the process because of his hearing loss and 2013 prostate cancer. The mayor and his brother Joe went to Dublin this spring to complete the enrollment process.
Barbee said there is a huge difference working with the VA.
“It’s like daylight and dark compared to what I had been dealing with,” he said.
He has already received two pairs of specially made shoes at no charge. He said the VA phone system can take time but once a representative is reached the service is great.
“I don’t just have a doctor; I met with a team of doctors at the amputee clinic,” Barbee said.
He was also fitted for prosthetics for both hands.
The challenge begins
May 4, 2023, Ed went in for the routine removal of a kidney stone. It was a procedure he had gone through twice before that year. But this time, while in recovery, his blood pressure started to drop and by the next morning Barbee was in a fight for his life.
The mayor had gone into septic shock. The treatment to save his life involved three blood transfusions and strong medications to focus blood flow to his vital organs. He was in ICU for two weeks.
Ruth recalled her husband had IVs everywhere. He was on a ventilator and underwent dialysis when his kidneys failed. The mayor does not remember much about those weeks.
After Barbee stabilized, Ruth noticed his fingers and toes were blue. The hope was that the circulation in his extremities would return, but for a majority of his hands and feet, it did not.
He was in the hospital for another 10 days and then transported to a rehab facility. By that time the fingers and toes had turned black. When no acceptable alternatives were found for Barbee’s care in local facilities, Ruth brought him home. At that time, he was able to stand and sit in a chair.
Barbee found out in a June 27, 2023, doctors visit his fingers had to be amputated, and a week later, he was told he would lose at least one-third of each foot. The surgeries took place July 13. He was sent home from the hospital the next day but had to return due to complications and remained there for two weeks.
The mayor opted to work on his goals with the help of personal trainer Steve Elmore, who came to his home. Ed now goes to the gym to work with Elmore and has started occupational therapy.
Ed’s independence also means more independence for Ruth, who is slowly easing back into a life of her own by going back to the gym and Pilot Club. Just as taking care of Ed 24/7 was an adjustment, the wife said watching him become independent again is an adjustment.
Ed and Ruth have repeatedly expressed their gratitude to everyone who helped them this past year with food and visits, especially Gus Wilson, who made sure the Barbees had transportation whenever they needed it.
Ruth said they were supported by family members, church members, friends and neighbors.
“We couldn’t have made it without our kids,” she added.
It is hard to imagine the grit and fortitude it has taken for this couple to have come through this challenge, and it would be impossible to say who is tougher, the marine or his wife.
Nevertheless, the mayor has been seen taking their dog for short walks lately. He said he is practicing for an upcoming family vacation at the beach.
