The Tribune

By JADE RUSSELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

jrussell@tribunemedia.net

A YOUNG man who lost both legs and two fingers after an infection says he is not disappointed that an overwhelming public response to his plight has so far translated into little concrete assistance, insisting he remains grateful and hopeful that more help will come.

Ezekiel Miller drew renewed public concern after The Tribune last week highlighted his continuing struggle to survive while living with severe disabilities.

The story had attracted nearly 4,000 reactions, 400 comments and 600 shares on The Tribune’s Facebook page up to press time, with numerous users expressing a desire to help.

But Mr Miller said only a few people have followed through.

He received several calls from people who said they had seen the story and wanted to assist, but said only one or two had expressed an interest in depositing money into his bank account.

Still, he said he was not disappointed.

“People did reach out, you just have to give time,” he said. “I just patiently waiting and just chilling right now.”

Mr Miller said some people had also offered to help repair his motorised wheelchair, which has stopped working and left him dependent on a standard wheelchair.

He thanked those who have supported him and remained hopeful that additional assistance would come.

The muted follow-through contrasts with the extraordinary level of engagement his story generated online and with the public response when his circumstances first received widespread attention last year.

At that time, members of the public rallied around Mr Miller, resulting in donations that included a motorised wheelchair, a regular stipend from businessman Eddie Whan and other assistance.

A year later, however, Mr Miller still spends about an hour each day manually pushing himself through the streets in a standard wheelchair and hoping people will spare a few dollars to help him make ends meet.

Renewed concern about his condition followed a Facebook video last week showing him sitting in his wheelchair wearing black knitted gloves to cover sores on his hands.

His black shorts exposed the areas where both legs had been amputated. The man recording the video said Mr Miller receives government assistance and a disability benefit, but claimed it was not enough to sustain him. He appealed to the public to help improve Mr Miller’s quality of life.

Mr Miller’s life changed after he stepped on a rusty nail when he was 14, leading to an infection and a series of amputations.

He lost his first leg at 14, his second at 19 and two fingers in 2024, leaving him with eight fingers.

He previously told The Tribune that his body had become exhausted from manually pushing a standard wheelchair every day.

The motorised wheelchair donated to him last year offered some relief, but it has since stopped working and needs repairs.