via Antonio Chavez of Lost Soul Courier Collective -

In December, David, our dear friend and co-founder of Lost Soul, was biking home at night from his weekend job in the pouring rain. A few blocks away from his house, his foot slipped off his pedal and jammed into the concrete at high speed, severely injuring his foot/heel and narrowly avoiding being struck by a car. The next day at Kaiser Permanente, he was diagnosed with a severely fractured calcaneus bone. The shattered heel required invasive surgery; a plate and numerous screws were required to re-align the bones.

After 10+ years as a bicycle messenger and mechanic, this freak accident landed him in a cast, unable to work and unable to walk and in persistent pain. The healing process is a minimum of 3-4 months and can be 1-2 years, with the possibility of further surgery needed. David likely won't be able to return to his full-time job as a courier, as the injury can have long-lasting mobility and pain implications.

Unfortunately, David's employer had to terminate his health coverage a few weeks after the accident, leaving him uncovered for January and February. With check-ups, extensive physical therapy, and possible future surgeries, he is looking at mounting medical expenses with no clear timetable for a return to work.

David has been a vital volunteer at Lost Soul and without his contributions, we certainly wouldn't be where we are today. If you know David, you know how important the cycling community is to him, as his livelihood as well as a recreational outlet. Let’s get our guy back on his feet.