Medical Relief for Cole Connor

Hi everyone and thanks in advance for taking the time to read this. Most of you know me as Cole Connor. On January 16th, 2022, you might remember hearing that I was attacked and assaulted by five men in Hollywood on a Saturday night. I was able to get away, but I sustained multiple injuries, including a fractured orbital floor of my left eye and ruptured hamstring tendons of both legs, making it very difficult to get away from my attackers. I was sure it would be my last few moments alive when a random car drove by and stopped long enough for me to jump in and get away from my attackers.

As of now, my eye is fixed, and I'm recovering from the first of two hamstring tendon repair surgeries which takes 6-8 weeks to recover from. I have been limited in the amount of on-camera work I have been able to do for the last eight months. The surgery center for the orbital floor replacement was out of network. The surgery was recommended to be done within ten days of the attack. I did not have the privilege of shopping for doctors within my network after one was referred to me from the ER who was out of my network. Ultimately, I was forced to pay the whole bill ( $9700) before they would operate on my face. I have contacted the California Victims Compensation Board and the District Attorney's Office's Bureau of Victims Services. Getting funds will be a slow, excessively prolonged, bureaucratic process, and there is no telling if and when these finances will be reimbursed.

This is just one example of these systems not working immediately for people who need assistance. I don't see a way out of this without some help from my support system. I hate asking anyone to bear the responsibility of helping me through this crisis. I am grateful to anyone who can provide some support. I also understand that not everyone is in a position to help.

I'm hopeful that I will regain full strength and mobility after the two separate surgeries on my legs. I'm incredibly grateful to the skilled healthcare professionals who have put me back together and made my recovery less difficult than I had imagined.

I hope that, in getting through this, I might be able to help others get help after surviving violent experiences themselves. I have felt lost and neglected in the process of trying to get financial aid for this crime. Nobody was ever arrested. Only injustice and complacency have prevailed despite the efforts of our healthcare system and government. I did not receive the guidance I needed to get anything done. It's a frustrating, endless process without the assistance of people who know how to navigate the system. I have been absolutely, incomprehensibly lost.

I do not know when or how much compensation I will be able to get from this nightmare. I do know that I need some immediate financial assistance. I had hoped I would make it through without asking for aid from my friends and family, but I know that I have at least six weeks to go before I can start working at my fully functioning capacity. I ask of you as supporters for just a few dollars if you can. I will find a way to thank you, I promise. Please let me know if you contribute and if there is something I can do to make it up to you! I will do my best to satisfy you. Until then, I hope you have a fantastic week, stay safe, and look out for one another.

I have had many other bills and expenses due to this attack. I also had a sarcoma removed from my left tricep and was given 18 sessions, Monday through Friday for a month, of radiation therapy to ensure it was gone. Nobody has been told about that, but it kept me from shooting scenes I was booked for in Europe in the summer.

I am grateful for all the support you can give. Please know that I will be making a solid effort to lend a hand and support victims of violent crimes in our country.