Linda Guajardo Garcia
Although I did not have the privilege of knowing Dr. Franklin personally, he saved my life. In 1974, when I was six years old, I stepped on an oxidized nail that was not properly taken care by the town (Poteet, Texas) doctor. As a result, I developed a severe infection and had numerous surgeries to no avail. My sister worked at his parent's store, Franklin Bros. in Poteet at the time. One afternoon she asked him if he would go to our home and take a look at my foot. Well he did and he told my Mom and my sister that I needed to be taken immediately to Mercy Hospital in Jourdanton. He performed a life saving surgery on me. As it turned out, I had gangrene in my left leg up to my knee. He told my Mom and sister that if I had not had that surgery that day, I would have lost my leg from my knee down. So in essence he not only saved my leg from amputation but he saved my life. And as if the surgery itself wasn't a miracle, we never received a bill for his services nor a bill from the hospital. He performed this surgery as a pro bono case without knowing who we were except that my sister was an employee at his parent's store. After the surgery, he would go to our home twice a week to check up on me. My family and I will forever be grateful to him for his kindness and compassion. I wish I had had the opportunity to thank him in person. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him. It is because of him that I am able to walk with both of my feet every day. I will forever and ever be grateful and deeply indebted to him. May he rest in peace and may God grant his family peace and strength during this difficult time.