As most who are friendly with Richard already know, he's been going through some tough times as of late. Already in a funk having been laid off from his job recently, he suddenly found himself in the hospital requiring emergency surgery.

I'll spare you the gory details, but a softball-size hernia he has had for several years was causing a blockage and had to be removed - a very serious procedure for someone his age/size. The good news is that the surgery was successful, and the even better news is that this whole scary affair appears to have been the wake-up call Richard desperately needed to lift him out of a deep depression and get serious about being healthy and active with the time he has left.

His recovery won't be easy, and as much as I know he appreciates all of the love and well-wishes sent his way he's basically on his own out in CA - along with his dog Baby - and bills will still need to be paid while he heals.

I wanted to set this up as way for friends to pitch in and let him know he's not really alone, and that we have his back. If you ever went to a show at 27 Birds or Flynns or one of the many he brought to the Cameo, if you're a member of Miami Punk Rock High, or if Richard has somehow touched your life in some way and made it a little more interesting, please pitch in whatever you can.