Hi, my name is Damian, and I'm fundraising for standup. No, wait-- that's not right-- I'm fundraising to stand up? Nope. Still sounds weird. Let me start over... My name is Damian, and I do standup comedy. It's the most fun job in the world, and I'm lucky to get to do it at any level, but I'm still doing small clubs and bars, and my landlord keeps saying drink tickets, "aren't money," so when I'm not saying inappropriate things to strangers, I'm running hotel ballroom stages for big boring corporate events. It's not nearly as much fun, but it is back-breaking, so it has that going for it. Incidentally, in March 2024, while moving several hundred pounds of stage equipment into one of these big basic ballrooms, I quite literally broke my back (not broke as in fractured, but as in non-functioning). My employer didn't file an incident report, but after another 3 weeks of letting me push through searing pain, they informed me that I was being removed from the schedule indefinitely because they "didn't want to be responsible for my injury," that I would only be allowed back pending a doctor's note clearing me for physical labor, and that, despite them not providing health insurance, they would also not be providing worker's comp. In the weeks that followed my existing symptoms worsened, and new ones appeared (which, I learned, is common with spinal injuries). I found myself unable to stand, or sit upright for more than a few minutes, drive long distances, or lift more than a few pounds, without nearly unbearable pain (which can last for hours or days), and now I walk like the T-800 robot at the end of the first Terminator movie, though without the murderous intent, and for only a few feet at a time. This has made seeking just about any new job out of the question (just writing the first part of this story has taken days, and I've had to resort to dictating the rest to my girlfriend), leaving comedy as my only means of earning income (if you can call $20 and a cold chicken wing income). So in a matter of weeks, I've gone from being a part-time standup who can also produce events, to a full-time standup who can hardly even stand up. It's kinda funny on paper, but trust me, in actuality, it sucks. I've recently acquired health insurance, with the help of a family member, and have MRIs scheduled for August. I had X-Rays taken in June, which showed disc displacement between C5 and C6, and C6 and C7, as well as irregular wear and tear on the bones and cartilage in my neck, as well as something obscured near my left shoulder, and arthritis throughout my spine. I have received a doctor's note saying I am not to return to work of any kind until further notice. I have hired a law firm to sue my employer for worker's comp, which I'm told they want to settle, but I have yet to sign an agreement, and I expect to be waiting at least a month to receive any money. I have also filed for unemployment, but the job searching requirement is proving extremely difficult, and my employer still has 2 weeks to appeal. In the meantime, I've run out of savings, my refrigerator is almost empty (not that I can cook much currently anyway), and all of my bills are about to be late. So here's what I'm asking for: Enough money to cover my basic living expenses for the next 3 months, while I wait for my settlement money to arrive, which I'll then use to seek enough medical treatment to hopefully return to some kind of gainful employment in the fall. The money from this fundraiser will be used to cover my food bill, phone bill, car note and insurance, gas (mainly to and from local comedy shows), and any miscellaneous or unexpected living expenses. Thank you to anyone who's taken the time to read this. I know a lot of people are strapped and struggling right now, so any donation is appreciated beyond measure. Thank you to those of you who've helped so far, or offered to. Your support is what's keeping me strong in my time of need.
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