Help save Eric Wood's hearing through surgery.

This gofundme is to help Eric Wood with surgery for Otosclerosis, a genetic ear condition that leads to hearing loss.

While many of us know Eric personally, it would be impossible to quantify the number of us who have been impacted and influenced by his work as a musician - through Bastard Noise, Man Is The Bastard, Neanderthal, and more. Beyond nearly forty years of musical output, Eric has been a constant voice against military imperialism, environmental destruction, and the unnecessary suffering humans inflict to all life. Perhaps more than anything else, he is a tireless advocate for animal liberation, the protection of endangered species, and a vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle.

It's important that we emphasize Otosclerosis is not preventable, or due to exposure to loud noises or high frequencies. It is a condition where the bones inside the ear fuse together and harden, preventing the vibrations that allow us hear. This is a relatively rare, usually only diagnosed after ruling out other common cases of conductive hearing loss. Eric's doctors have recommended surgery - a Stepedectomy - where the non-moving stapes bone inside the ear would be removed snd replaced with a titanium prosthesis.

While Eric has health insurance, his deductible is over $6000. Total costs for surgery, followup appointments, and medication is estimated to be between $6,800 - $10,300. This fundraiser is to help our friend and a pillar of the DIY and experimental music community be able to afford the surgery that will save his hearing, any related medication and followup appointments, as well as the time he will miss from work while recovering.

Please share this link if you want to help Eric or have enjoyed his work over the years. Any amount of support is truly appreciated. We will continue to post updates here regarding his surgery and recovery as information becomes available. Thank you!