This fundraiser is to save my teeth and vision. Most urgently, I need oral surgery, bone grafts, implants and crowns on a bunch of teeth. I don't know the total cost yet (nothing on crowns yet), but it's going to cost at least $20,000. The eye treatments are another $3000, but annually. That's the short version of why I'm asking for donations.

Nava took this photo of me on my beloved hammock, all bundled up against the Richmond bay wind—after showering me with rose petals.

I've been dealing with macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts. Surgery on the latter is risky because of those other factors. My left eye can barely read due to what has now become Wet AMD, a more serious kind of macular degeneration than I've been dealing with for the past five years. I've started getting injections in that eye for it, and they're helping. The retinologist just told me that I've regained two lines of text on the vision chart.

The retinal scans plus injections are expensive: $3000 per year. I'll gladly pay whatever I can to save my vision, but I don't make enough to cover this and teeth. I need new glasses more often, and my low-vision scrips cost over $600 per pair. That on its own I could handle, but this is all coming at once.

I started the work on my teeth last year, going to Mexico to save on costs. Had two molars out and bone grafts, but have to wait to get the implants, then crowns. I can't chew much on that side, but neither can I chew very well on the other side, where another tooth is going fast. The endodontist in Mexico said it needs to be taken out soon, before I come back for the next step over the bone graft. I had planned to get all the work done there, but travel now is looking very iffy, and my hosts won't be there anyway until Nov. So I gotta move on this now.

On my eyes: if the treatments I'm now getting continue to improve my macula, I might be able to get cataract surgery. I wanted to get it sooner than later—because who knows how long we'll still have Medicare. But the surgeon advised caution until the AMD and glaucoma were stabilized, since they make it riskier. I might try to remove the cataract on my non-reading eye first and see how it goes.

The chance of messing up my reading eye would, to say the least, massively interfere with my ability to do my work, which is a daunting prospect. It's because of that work that I don't have the resources to cover these medical costs. Conversely, my ability to put out the work is at risk if I lose my vision.

So if you feel moved to contribute, I am grateful for any donations.