Save Graham's Knee
Donation protected
Dear friends, family, and benevolent strangers from across the internet: my name is Graham Miles, and I really need your help.
I'm an actor living in New York City (which is hard enough on its own), and during rehearsals for my last show, I injured my right knee. A recent MRI has shown that my meniscus (the part of the knee that protects the cartilage) is torn in three places, and the doctors have told me that until I get surgery, any physical activity I do could cause severe and permanent damage to my leg, which would effectively end my career (imagine playing Russian roulette every time you climb a set of stairs).
This is devastating news. The roles I play are often very physically demanding, and I'm on the verge of finishing a Masters degree in Fine Arts at The New School, which means I've spent almost seven years in formal training to develop my craft. That's the kind of time that people who want to be doctors put into med school. Frankly, my whole adult life has been one long investment in my career, and the thought that it might suddenly be at risk is terrifying. I've already had to withdraw from a tour I was supposed to start later this month. So the bottom line is that I need this surgery right away.
Now, as a Canadian citizen, I should have access to universal healthcare. Unfortunately, the public waiting list for my surgery is over two years long, which would make it impossible to finish my degree. It would also destroy any momentum I've built up in my industry, and put me at risk of ruining my knee completely if I did anything over the next two years beyond sitting in a chair. That's not an option for me, so I'm reaching out to the private sector. I've been told that I can get arthroscopy within the next month, which should basically fix me up like new, but that it will cost anywhere from $6000 to $11000. This presents a problem of a different kind.
At this point, the only money I have saved up is from my student loans, and I'm relying on that to finish my degree. My family has always been as supportive of me as they can, but I don't come from money and we just don't have enough to pay for private care on our own. So even though I'd rather avoid putting my hand out, asking for help through this campaign is currently the best (and only) option I have. Any support you're able to give me–whether it's in the form of a donation or just passing the word around about my campaign–will be a significant step towards restoring my career and my quality of life.
Thank you for taking the time to check out my campaign and learn about my situation. I'm extremely grateful for any help you're able to provide during this difficult time, and I wish you good health and happiness in your endeavors as we kick off (no pun intended) this new year.
Sincerely,
Graham Miles
I'm an actor living in New York City (which is hard enough on its own), and during rehearsals for my last show, I injured my right knee. A recent MRI has shown that my meniscus (the part of the knee that protects the cartilage) is torn in three places, and the doctors have told me that until I get surgery, any physical activity I do could cause severe and permanent damage to my leg, which would effectively end my career (imagine playing Russian roulette every time you climb a set of stairs).
This is devastating news. The roles I play are often very physically demanding, and I'm on the verge of finishing a Masters degree in Fine Arts at The New School, which means I've spent almost seven years in formal training to develop my craft. That's the kind of time that people who want to be doctors put into med school. Frankly, my whole adult life has been one long investment in my career, and the thought that it might suddenly be at risk is terrifying. I've already had to withdraw from a tour I was supposed to start later this month. So the bottom line is that I need this surgery right away.
Now, as a Canadian citizen, I should have access to universal healthcare. Unfortunately, the public waiting list for my surgery is over two years long, which would make it impossible to finish my degree. It would also destroy any momentum I've built up in my industry, and put me at risk of ruining my knee completely if I did anything over the next two years beyond sitting in a chair. That's not an option for me, so I'm reaching out to the private sector. I've been told that I can get arthroscopy within the next month, which should basically fix me up like new, but that it will cost anywhere from $6000 to $11000. This presents a problem of a different kind.
At this point, the only money I have saved up is from my student loans, and I'm relying on that to finish my degree. My family has always been as supportive of me as they can, but I don't come from money and we just don't have enough to pay for private care on our own. So even though I'd rather avoid putting my hand out, asking for help through this campaign is currently the best (and only) option I have. Any support you're able to give me–whether it's in the form of a donation or just passing the word around about my campaign–will be a significant step towards restoring my career and my quality of life.
Thank you for taking the time to check out my campaign and learn about my situation. I'm extremely grateful for any help you're able to provide during this difficult time, and I wish you good health and happiness in your endeavors as we kick off (no pun intended) this new year.
Sincerely,
Graham Miles
Organizer
Graham Miles
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY