Urgent Need for Help Due to Severe Pitbull Attack

In August, while helping pull a depressed friend and their seven animals out of self-neglect, squalor, and illness, Baron was attacked by their unneutered adult pitbull and horribly injured in both hands, his right thigh, and his right foot. The worst of these injuries is to his right index finger. That finger was horribly crushed, lacerated, and lost more than a third of the skin and flesh on the palm side, straight down to the bone in places, with significant flexor tendon damage. He was in the hospital for 3 days, and went into the OR being told the finger would possibly need to be amputated. Luckily that was not the case.

More than a month into a slow painful recovery, the first promising wiggles of slight movement are now subtly apparent at each finger joint. His long road to regaining full strength and ROM is well begun, though by no means assured, and a corrective surgery may be necessary. But he is temporarily without income, and in addition to his significant medical bills, he can no longer afford transportation, housing, or groceries, his credit cards having already been maxed out by the bills and treatments so far.

Baron has been among my closest friends for 30 years, since our golden days as fellow New College students (where he had to put his studies on hold to take care of his mother after a severe stroke.) He's one of the kindest and most honorable people that I know, a talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, piano, mandolin, drums), with hopefully many years of joyful creativity, collaboration, and performance ahead of him. Prior to this tragic injury, he had, in fact, planned to move to Nashville to pursue work as a studio and gigging musician, while reviving his budding Salesforce Consultancy, which was put on a hold by his devastating divorce (finalized just months ago — on his birthday, no less), and tremendous grief over the sudden tragic death of a loved one.

In 2014, when I needed help during my brain cancer treatment, he lovingly did a similar fundraiser for me (as well as one in 2017 for his best buddy Patrick David Koch, gifted and much beloved Gainesville musician, during his brave struggle with throat cancer). He regularly gives what he can to others in need, both in time and money. Those who truly know him, know all this is true.

It's now time for us to give what we can and show support to help him through this horrifically challenging time, so that he can focus fully on his recovery, without the anxiety and stress of struggling to make ends meet while deeply traumatized and debilitated. Any amount is greatly appreciated, no offering too small.

PLEASE SHARE this fundraiser, and ask others to do so, in turn. Especially if you are can't contribute financially. Reshares is where the magic happens. Gratitude in advance for giving to this most worthy cause.