Head Injury Disables Gareth from Work

Hey everyone,

Approximately a week ago, I bumped my head on a low hanging ceiling in a basement. I had just shaved my head, so there was no padding to absorb any of the impact. It left a cut directly on the top of my head.

Despite the initial pain and feeling of disorientation, I gave it a good rub and did my best to walk it off. After about 15-20 minutes, most of the pain had dissipated, and I felt relatively okay.

I carried on with a business-as-usual attitude; I performed at a showcase in Brandon with my friend Trista last weekend and nothing seemed off.

Several days passed, and I began to notice a slow, thudding pain emanating directly from where I had struck my head. I began to feel sick, disoriented, and my thoughts became foggy. I managed to make it to two days of work last week (Monday and Tuesday), but come Wednesday, the pain and disorientation increased to a point where I feared driving a motor vehicle may put myself or others in dangers. My sensitivity to light felt very strong, and the muscles in my neck began to hurt.

I was forced to take the rest of the week off of work, and was driven to a clinic to have my injury assessed. The prognosis was that I had a concussion, and I was given a doctors note to take an additional week off to recover. I learned that a concussion is a mild brain injury, and too much of any kind of stimulation can slow down the healing process significantly, and even cause more lasting or permanent damage. Unfortunately for me, my job as a music teacher exists within a very involved, stimulating environment that requires the ability to tolerate long periods of loud noises while thinking quickly on my feet... something I currently do not have the capacity to do.

It turned out a little bump on my head was more severe than initially anticipated.

For my own health, I am following the doctors orders and spending the week with minimal screen time and stimulation to do my best to make a full recovery. I have an additional appointment this upcoming Friday at a clinic that specializes in concussions/head injuries for additional testing.

Despite the understanding of my employers/staff at GAAC, I am not going to have enough money to make ends meet this month.

I'm asking for the help of my friends and family to please assist me during this time of recovery and health issues to donate what you can so I can afford to keep a roof over my head and food in my belly. I find it almost embarrassing to have to ask for financial assistance, but I am doing my best to humble myself and ask for help.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

<3

-Gareth