In August of 2017, Frank Brown experienced a severe toe wound that required an amputation. Since he also suffers from peripheral vascular disease (PVD), a circulatory condition in which narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to the limbs, this injury was exacerbated. The wound did not heal after months of suffering discomfort and pain. His doctor said that the wound would not heal on its own due to his PVD, and he was unable to be as active with his grandchildren due to the pain.