Help an old-school member of the Minneapolis music scene get back on the dance floor!

If you've been around, you've met Roberto... and if you haven't, we can tell you that his cheerful enthusiasm for music and dancing is obvious, even from across the dance floor. Another thing you may have noticed from either meeting him in real life, or following his posts on social media is that Roberto lives with severe and debilitating osteoarthritis, affecting multiple joints, worst of all his knees.

Currently, standing, walking, or dancing is incredibly painful for him. Over the last 2 years, it's gotten to the point where no position is comfortable, even sitting or lying down. His right leg is crooked because of it and it's incredibly hard for him to get up and down stairs or carry things because he needs his arms to balance and hold on to things. Carrying any weight only adds to the pressure on his knees and getting through a day at work is nearly impossible.

Roberto would really love to be able to have range of movement as his dancing has been reduced to "shuffling my feet around like an old man. I just want to be free from pain. Even getting around my apartment is a struggle." Everywhere he goes has to be calculated against how far he might have to walk or how long he might have to stand. "I want to be able to just go for a walk with a friend and not have it be a nightmare." Roberto has to rely on taking large doses of over-the-counter pain medications which could damage his kidneys and liver over long periods of time.

Surgery is available... but of course that requires Roberto to be able to take time off to heal, which is why he's already put it off for years. Thankfully he finally pulled the trigger and surgery #1 of 2 is scheduled for Thursday December 18th at M Health Fairview UMMC PeriOp Services (Total Knee Arthroplasty on the right knee only). The recovery time for this surgery is 3 months during which he will not be able to work. After he recovers a 2nd surgery for his other knee will be scheduled. Our communal financial support is desperately needed to keep our friend housed and fed during this essential time of healing

Please donate anything you can to make this a reality for Roberto. No one deserves to suffer like this while treatment is available. Let's show him that he matters to all of us!

More info about Roberto Dommer in his own words:

I was born in Honduras, abandoned at days old, and was adopted and brought to the US at about 1 year old. I grew up in Wisconsin. I've been living in Minnesota for 16 years and am currently living in south Minneapolis. I was working as a construction framer building houses but have not been able to return to that type of work due to suffering from severe osteoarthritis in both knees. More recently I was working at Eriks as a bicycle assembly technician, but it is a seasonal job that doesn't operate or pay in the winter. I am currently still working at Cowboy Jacks downtown as a security guard. It is only part time (10 hours a week).

My daughter Arianna Rose is currently a senior at School of Environmental Studies. She is also enrolled at Northwestern University and taking general classes there. She is unable to declare her major until she gets her diploma. She wants to study elementary education and biochemistry. She wants to do medical research on cancer studies and stem cell studies as well as teach. She plans to go to Costa Rica for a school trip this year. She looks forward to learning local culture and the biological system of the rainforest.

I have a son Santiago who is 24 years old. He's a Sergeant in the National Guard and also works for Stronghouse Solutions as a Service Tech/Runner. He has a beautiful family of his own with his girlfriend Kelsey and their child, my granddaughter, Isabella Mae

I am a DJ here in Minneapolis. I am part of the team that puts on Big Love. And i love attending all of the amazing dance music events that this city has to offer. Going out and dancing is a huge part of my life and is a form of meditation and healing for me.