Update January 21st, 2026

Thanks y'all for donating to the fund! It was enough to get me through this sucky time, and I'm happy to report I'm returning to work again with a temporary set of wheels. I'll be able to take it from here. You rock! And again, watch out for deer. I hope to never have to do this again.

Hello everyone!

My name is Charles Shade II, but a lot of my friends call me Rekker/Wrecker. I’m a computer nerd, artist, car nut, A/V hobbiest, roleplayer, and habitual traveler. Unfortunately this Sunday I managed to live up to my nickname.

TL;DR – Deer + truck = car wreck, broken bones, can’t work so got let go, need 2 months’ worth of money for expenses during recovery.

Long version – While driving home after a game of Pathfinder at my mate’s place, I was navigating a curve when a truck was approaching from the opposite direction. I dimmed my high beams to my low beams, and the next thing I saw was a deer standing broadside in the middle of my lane. I stood on the brake and clutch, hit the pointy-head idiot, crossed over the center line, and had an overlapping crash with the truck.

The other party was treated and discharged the same night, thank goodness. I took the worst of it. For starters, my hatchback is totaled. That hurts the most. It can be replaced (insurance doing its thing), but that car was an extension of who I was. First new car I ever bought, 77k miles that were all mine, track days, conventions, car shows, and countless road trips. I was nowhere near ready to say goodbye, but it did its job and saved my life. Protocol 3: Protect the pilot. Rest easy, Pepper.

Then there’s me. I’m gonna have scars! Scars are cool, right? I have a fractured sternum, a broken wrist, a fractured pinky finger, and a fractured thumb. Getting in and out of bed is quite the show, and door frames, desks, and counter tops have become BIG DANGER. I unlock new voice lines every time I accidentally hit one. My anticipated recovery time is going to be 6 weeks, and I’m keeping my remaining good fingers crossed that it’s a QUICK 6.

Unfortunately, I had started a new construction job in October. Because I had not yet been with the company for a year, my position was closed and I was let go. I may be able to return once I’m healed, but this still leaves me without any sort of income during my recovery window.

The money raised for this fund will go towards my living expenses over the next 2 months. Expenses being rent, food, electric, and my followup medical appointments. I like living. Living is nice.

Thank you for your time!

Watch out for deer. They’ve learned how to collateral.

-Charles