Jeff's Detached Hamstring Fund
Donation protected
Hello All,
My name is Jeff Taylor. I am a designer/fabricator of custom furniture and lighting using a variety of materials such as steel, bronze, brass, wood, glass, leather, etc. I also build motorcycles and shape/fiberglass surfboards for fun. I have my own shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. Much of my work is with artists, designers, architects and private clients for their projects and I also make my own personal work as well.
In early March 2015, I had a very bad injury that resulted in a fully detached left hamstring that then required a major, invasive surgury to reattach it to my pelvis. In medical terminology the injury is called an ischial tuberosity avulsion. The doctor, Anil Ranawat at the Hospital for Special Surgury in New York, of whom I can't speak highly enough, said that the recuperation would be long and arduous. Without getting into too graphic of detail, he said that reattaching the "stump" of the tendon to the pelvis is tricky in it's healing process as tendons heal much slower than bones. The original prognosis was about 9 months for recovery, this last November. Around that time I had my last visit to Dr. Ranawat. He was looking at the latest x-ray with a collegue in training. He was there expanding his skill set, learning his chops. They were going over the sheer acrobatics involved in the surgical repair, with an anesthetized patient on the table, how to move the leg throughout the phases of the procedure to gain access to do the work. It was great, they were speaking as if I wasn't there. I asked about the 9 month prognosis and Dr. Ranawat turns around saying, "No Jeff, maybe spring...". There you go, do the PT.
I was in a full waist to ankle immovable brace for months, on a walker, then crutches and now a cane. Needless to say i was unable to work for a very, very long time but the shop rent, home rent, insurance and medical bills still had to be paid. All this virtually depleted my savings and I'm in such debt that it sometimes feels as if I wont get out. This is why i have set up this go fund me account, to help me to literally get back on my feet. I was theoretically aware of the severity of the injury and necessary recuperation time but in reality had absolutely no idea how taxing it would be, physically, emotionally and financially. Truely maddening on so many levels. It has affected my family life more than I want to express here.
I am just now able to start working on a more full time basis in my shop and, though I'm in deep financial troubles, I remain optimistic that i will be able to build myself and my business back up again, to be able to get back to the activities that gave me so much joy before the injury. Skiing, surfing, road trips, designing and building.
I'm generally not one to do something like this but at the recommendation of family, a variety of friends and colleagues, I'm putting this together, putting this out there in hopes that it may, in some way, help me get my head above water. I would be inexpressibly grateful if this helps to alleviate part of this financial strain as well as help me get some needed emotional support, both professional and personal, as soon as possible. This past year has reminded me how truely vulnerable one can be.
With deepest gratitude,
Jeff Taylor
My name is Jeff Taylor. I am a designer/fabricator of custom furniture and lighting using a variety of materials such as steel, bronze, brass, wood, glass, leather, etc. I also build motorcycles and shape/fiberglass surfboards for fun. I have my own shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. Much of my work is with artists, designers, architects and private clients for their projects and I also make my own personal work as well.
In early March 2015, I had a very bad injury that resulted in a fully detached left hamstring that then required a major, invasive surgury to reattach it to my pelvis. In medical terminology the injury is called an ischial tuberosity avulsion. The doctor, Anil Ranawat at the Hospital for Special Surgury in New York, of whom I can't speak highly enough, said that the recuperation would be long and arduous. Without getting into too graphic of detail, he said that reattaching the "stump" of the tendon to the pelvis is tricky in it's healing process as tendons heal much slower than bones. The original prognosis was about 9 months for recovery, this last November. Around that time I had my last visit to Dr. Ranawat. He was looking at the latest x-ray with a collegue in training. He was there expanding his skill set, learning his chops. They were going over the sheer acrobatics involved in the surgical repair, with an anesthetized patient on the table, how to move the leg throughout the phases of the procedure to gain access to do the work. It was great, they were speaking as if I wasn't there. I asked about the 9 month prognosis and Dr. Ranawat turns around saying, "No Jeff, maybe spring...". There you go, do the PT.
I was in a full waist to ankle immovable brace for months, on a walker, then crutches and now a cane. Needless to say i was unable to work for a very, very long time but the shop rent, home rent, insurance and medical bills still had to be paid. All this virtually depleted my savings and I'm in such debt that it sometimes feels as if I wont get out. This is why i have set up this go fund me account, to help me to literally get back on my feet. I was theoretically aware of the severity of the injury and necessary recuperation time but in reality had absolutely no idea how taxing it would be, physically, emotionally and financially. Truely maddening on so many levels. It has affected my family life more than I want to express here.
I am just now able to start working on a more full time basis in my shop and, though I'm in deep financial troubles, I remain optimistic that i will be able to build myself and my business back up again, to be able to get back to the activities that gave me so much joy before the injury. Skiing, surfing, road trips, designing and building.
I'm generally not one to do something like this but at the recommendation of family, a variety of friends and colleagues, I'm putting this together, putting this out there in hopes that it may, in some way, help me get my head above water. I would be inexpressibly grateful if this helps to alleviate part of this financial strain as well as help me get some needed emotional support, both professional and personal, as soon as possible. This past year has reminded me how truely vulnerable one can be.
With deepest gratitude,
Jeff Taylor
Organizer
Jeff Taylor
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY