Michael Lucio Sternbach - A Liver Supreme!

Hello to Michael's friends and loved ones!

We are creating this campaign on behalf of the remarkable Michael Lucio Sternbach, aka MLS. Through his longstanding friendships, eclectic interests, artistic work, creative spirit, and absolutely singular sense of humor, Michael has made a massive difference in the lives of so many people (and so many kinds of people...) As a result of PSC, or Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis—a rare and incurable disease that Michael was diagnosed with seven years ago—he recently required a complex liver and bile ducts transplant at University Hospital in Newark, NJ. Initially, his prognosis for survival was 5-10 years. Dr. Guarrera, the head transplant surgeon, said “it was one of the most difficult surgeries of my career,” and yet this amazing and generous team of doctors saved our friend’s life. The surgery was complicated but successful, and now, as Michael navigates life outside of the hospital and fights to access ongoing medical care, it's our chance to return the kindness, care, and support he's shown to so many of us.

During the coming months of his ongoing recovery, Michael will need access to many things, including home care providers. His insurance doesn't cover this essential expense, nor does it cover the consistent physical therapy sessions he requires to heal and rebuild muscle for walking, working, and—of course!—carrying around his beloved cat Herman (aka Chicken). As much as he misses it, Michael won't be able to work for the foreseeable future. Yet the bills will keep coming: for groceries, rent, utilities, medications, medical bills, and, crucially, for home care services.

It's a long road ahead, but with the support of his incredible network of friends, family, colleagues, and allies, we can help this guy get back on his feet. While Michael prepares for his new life, please consider donating what you can to help with his medical and recovery expenses as well as living costs. Any little bit goes a long way, and he is grateful for each and every one of you.

Michael’s background, work, and community connections

Many of us know Michael through his work as a musician, videographer, archivist, and longtime volunteer, employee, and committed supporter of the music industry in New York and New Jersey. For more than 25 years, he has worked as a freelancer for Arts For Art, Vision Festival, and New York Guitar Festival, serving as videographer with focus on live music and music documentaries. From his salad days until now, art and culture have always played a profound and formative role in Michael’s life. He is so grateful to have worked with artists like Wayne Shorter, Bruce Springsteen, Jewel, Archie Shepp, Yoko Ono, Sonic Youth, Norah Jones, Sun Ra Arkestra, and Rosanne Cash, to name only a few. Michael has always been—and will continue to be—deeply dedicated to supporting musicians, visual artists, and employees who help music thrive. In addition to music, he has spent a significant part of his life working with non-profit organizations in whose missions he believes deeply. These organizations include the National Domestic Workers Alliance, the Ford Foundation, and various scholarship and creative organizations that support equity, justice, and create communities of care.

Growing up skateboarding in the 80s and 90s taught Michael valuable life lessons. Professional skaters like Ray Barbee and Mark Gonzales helped lead him down a creative path, and DIY skateboard videos exposed Michael to all different types of music: punk, jazz, hip-hop, etc. The skateboard videos he watched as a kid inspired him to work in film and video production and instilled in him the importance of travel and being on the road, meeting new people, and traveling to other countries. Most of all, the fundamental ethos of skateboarding taught Michael how essential it is to never give up, to fall and get back up again, and that you might fail and fail until you succeed. These are traits and values he has obviously carried with him throughout his life—especially since his diagnosis, during his illness, and in the aftermath of his transplants and recovery process.

The path ahead is still long for Michael, and we’re hoping you can help support the next steps of his healing journey.