This is a long story to understand the full irony of the situation, but the short version: I fell in my kitchen on Christmas Day and broke my back. I am now paralyzed and unable to walk, move, or feel anything from my waist down.

Hello, my name is Darryl Mott. I am a freelance writer covering news about tabletop roleplaying games and recently started writing for tabletop RPGs. I previously live streamed and have a YouTube channel with around a dozen videos on gaming history.

In October 2024, I went to the hospital due to an inability to stand. I had wounds on my legs that had gone necrotic that sapped the strength in my legs, along with other issues such as kidney failure. I started physical therapy in February and, after a lot of hard work, I was able to walk again using a walker by April, started using a cane by June, and by August mostly walked without the cane and only used it as a just-in-case.

On Christmas Eve, my family exchanged presents and I received a gift card. I used it to purchase an exercise bike to improve my mobility.

A few hours later, I fell in the kitchen. The best estimation is a wrinkle or bump in a rug knocked my slipper askew and I couldn't catch my balance. I was still able to move my legs at that time, but couldn't get up. We called the fire department who lifted me up, but I immediately fell. My legs were numb. Either the lift or the second fall broke my back.

I was rushed to the ER in Beaumont, who immediately referred me to Memorial Hermann hospital in Houston. After surgery on my back, it was determined I had spinal damage at the T10 vertebrae, so slightly above my belly button. I am completely paralyzed, unable to walk, stand, or even more or feel anything. Oh, and I broke my ankle in the fall too, but that seems less significant.

I am now in a long-term care facility, which has some issues attached. Previously I was on SSI, but part of the Medicaid coverage paying for my long-term care (at least here in Texas) means that the facility will receive the vast majority of my monthly disability payment and I will only get a small "allowance" of around $45 per month. This does not come remotely close to covering my expenses.

This fundraiser is for two things - first to build a small nest egg (though not too large because I'm not allowed more than $2000 in assets) to help pay my cell phone and other bills, and second to pay off credit cards.

An aside on that - The first few months after I got out of the hospital in 2025, I had no insurance and had to pay out-of-pocket for things like a wheelchair, a wheelchair ramp, medical transport to my appointments including dialysis and wound care, and groceries as I was on a highly restricted renal diet. Even with help from my previous fundraiser, I had to max out multiple credit cards in order to cover these expenses. If I can get the rehab I need to go back home again, I will need to protect my credit rating as much as I can. Which means paying off and closing as many credit cards as possible to avoid the mass of monthly payments.

Please help me clear my financial situation so I can focus on recovery and attempting to work toward the ability to become at least somewhat independent once again. Thank you.