Help Eric Riffe Overcome Medical and Housing Crisis

My name is Eric Riffe. I am 45 years old and a resident of Asheville, NC. I work for the local government administering Medicaid. I'm recovering from a series of medical emergencies and could use some help.

On July 14th my girlfriend and some other wonderful friends forced me to get in an ambulance. I had been in severe pain for weeks at that point. While I was very stubborn and reluctant I eventually was taken via ambulance to Mission hospital. Upon arrival I was not really coherent. After running some tests it was determined that I had a blood infection. There were several areas of my body that had become infected as a result of this. They ran some MRI's and found infection in my left foot and shoulder. These required surgery. I had been experiencing severe back pain for months as well but I chalked it up to thirty years of labor as a chef. The doctors ran an MRI on my back and discovered a large pocket of infection on my spinal cord. This required a very serious surgery that happened very quickly after the discovery of the infection. I was very scared at this point because there was a 45% chance of becoming paralyzed from the chest down. I was immediately taken to the OR for prep. I met with the neurosurgeon performing the procedure and he had done the operation many times. It was supposed to last 4 hours. It lasted over 9 hours. They had to remove 4 vertebrae and essentially lift my spine out of my body as the infection was wrapped around my spinal cord. After the operation they kept me in a medically induced coma for 40 hours. Once I awoke the doctor came in and I was able to move my toes and had retained feeling in my legs. For this I feel incredibly lucky.

I am currently in a skilled nursing facility recovering through IV antibiotics and physical therapy.

I was lucky enough to have FMLA at my job and will be able to return to work sometime near OCT 1st. In the meantime I am no longer receiving a paycheck. Because when it rains it pours my landlord called and informed me that they were putting the house I was renting on the market and I have to be out by Sept. 1st. I was able to secure a new rental but the deposit and first months rent took all of my savings. I am only creating this go fund me to try and get through hiring movers, setting up utilities and have groceries etc until I can receive a paycheck again. I feel very lucky to be alive and walking. Anything helps and I appreciate all of you.