I am asking for your help in raising money for a friend of mine who has been going through a hard time financially and is about to have a very serious surgery with a long recovery period. Donations of any amount will help out and be greatly appreciated.

My friend, Arik Heinichen, is about to undergo a surgical procedure to have the disc removed from between the C6 an C7 vertebrae in his neck  and then have them fused together. The surgery is necessary as a result of injuries that have been sustained over the course of his life, including a broken collarbone as a child, a severe auto accident, and a motorcycle accident where he was thrown from his bike over the top of a car. Up until this point Arik was unable to get the required medical care and has suffered under these injuries for many years. 

Chronic pain and physical limitations have affected Arik's ability to do certain types of work, especially involving heavy lifting or repetitive motions. Muscle spasms as well as numbness in his fingers played a role in his decision to leave the food industry in which he had worked most of his adult life. He has also been limited in how he is able to exercise regularly or enjoy the outdoors and beautiful landscapes in Colorado, where he has made his home.

Arik has been out of work in the period of time leading up to the surgery and will be unable to work or drive for an extended period as he recovers. Any money that is raised will go toward providing nutritious, low-prep meals; offset the cost of medication and follow-up medical visits; and ensure that he is able to pay for his personal and household expenses.

After recovering from surgery, Arik looks forward to being able to get back into a regular exercise regimen, take advantage of the many recreational opportunities around him that he has had to pass up, and generally be able to live a more normal life. Without the burden of living with chronic pain, he also hopes to be able to pursue new and more meaningful professional opportunities.