PHOTOGRAPHER PARALYZED in VICIOUS PITBULL ATTACK

Paul Ardolino is organizing this fundraiser.

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I am single and have lived in my Hollywood apartment for over 30 years. I have primarily worked on location as a talent photographer as well as a musician. Since rent and the cost of transportation had risen so dramatically over the years, I desperately needed a more efficient way to make my income. So in 2017, I began constructing my own in-home photo studio where I could provide headshots, retouching and printing services to the all the talented actors that walked by my home everyday. It wasn't until January 2018 did I finish building and launch "HUMAN FACES / PALARDO PHOTO."

By June 2018, my business proved very successful and I no longer had a problem with paying my bills. This also allowed me plenty of time to dedicate to my love of music, and to continue performing on my guitar at night. Suddenly this all came to a screeching halt --

On the night of July 31st, I was walking home from the Pantages Theater. Up ahead I noticed a scuffle between an erratic homeless man with a metal pole and his pitbull. The dog was barking and lunging at the tourists preceding me. As I tried to pass by, the man prodded his dog who suddenly sprung toward me. The pitbull's teeth tore in and locked onto my left hand. I finally fought him off but the damage was already done. I fell to the sidewalk and watched in horror as the vicious animal attacked three more pedestrians.

After 2 surgeries and a week at Cedars Sinai Hospital...

... I left paralyzed in a cast and faced months of rehabilitative care. I could no longer operate my camera, do my photo retouching, or even play my guitar. All of my photo customers were canceled, my income had declined, and I began incurring a sudden loss-- one which I haven't been able to recover since the night of my attack. This has sent me into a tailspin of financial desperation.

My rent is again overdue. If I fail to pay this time, I face property removal and eviction. I can't afford a storage space, and moving my equipment and artwork out into the street would not only destroy years of photographic work but also all the efforts I invested into building my new studio.

All my savings have been exhausted during these last months of rehab. So now I must make a plea to GoFundme's supporters to help me pay my basic survival expenses while I finish. This would give me my final chance to continue my life's work in Hollywood and to get back to a much healthier and happier existence.

Everyone needs at least one chance to make a comeback from such a devastating event as I had encountered back in July. And I would like GoFundme to exemplify my story as an inspiration to others who have suffered through the same, and need a little bit of help to get back up on their feet again.

Thanks and God Bless You All!

Here are some pics from "better hand" days...