Two failed knee surgeries have kept Andrés from walking, working or living normally since 2024. An urgent upcoming third operation means a traumatic and uncertain 18-month recovery ahead. Friends of Andrés are calling on the community to help him through this by donating - any amount will make a big difference. Thank you for being a part of this <3

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Accident and What’s Happened After

In September 2024, Andrés fell down a flight of stairs and hit a wall, causing a serious knee injury. His patella tendon tore completely and he needed urgent, complicated surgery. During the hospital stay, a physiotherapist accidentally re‑ruptured the tendon and Andrés had to go through a second surgery just days later. For the past year and a half, Andrés has done everything he possibly can to recover: intense rehab, specialist treatments, machines, protocols, you name it. But he still can’t walk without crutches, climb stairs, or live his normal life.

In February, after new scans, the orthopedic surgeon at Bispebjerg Hospital told him something devastating: with the current damage, there was no way he could have recovered. The tendon is basically gone. No amount of rehab could have fixed it.

It turns out that during the second surgery, the tendon that needed to be reattached was left too loose. Over time, it retracted and became so damaged that Andrés now urgently needs a third surgery. This time, he’ll receive a donor tendon to reinforce what little tissue is left. It’s a more complex procedure with a higher risk of infection, but it’s the only chance for Andrés to regain control of his leg. Even then, some permanent loss of function is expected, but he will be able to walk and go up and down stairs without crutches once recovered.

Despite the blow of needing another surgery, Andrés is ready. He’s been fighting through this for 18 months and he’s determined to get his life back.

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Why We’re Asking for Help

We’re asking for your support so Andrés can get through this surgery and the long recovery ahead. This isn’t “just a knee injury.” The surgery he’s having on April 16th is so rare that only two of them are done in Denmark each year. Tendon reconstruction is extremely delicate. Honestly, a broken bone would have been easier.

Standing with Andrés now means helping him finally get the chance to heal properly.

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What Recovery Looks Like

Recovery from this surgery takes around six months just to get through the first phase. During that time, Andrés will need help with basic daily tasks, getting around, and managing life in general.

For the first six weeks, he won’t be able to leave his apartment at all, as he can’t get down the stairs until the hospital-people help him down for his first check-up, likely at the end of May. If everything goes well, he’ll be out of the knee brace by July. Full recovery is expected to take about 18 months, meaning it will be October 2027 — three years after the accident — before he can hopefully regain control of his leg, even with some permanent limitations.

It’s been a long road already, and there’s still a long way to go. But with support, Andrés will finally be able to truly heal and recover.

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Friends of Andrés Recovery Crew

We’ve come together as Friends of Andrés to support him through this. We’ll be with him every day, doing the cooking, helping with medication, keeping him company, and making sure he has what he needs. We’ve organised care shifts, shopping plans, rehab routines, and rearranged our own lives so he doesn’t go through this alone.

And this GoFundMe is how you can be part of that support too. Your contribution helps Andrés, and it helps us help him. And we thank you for strengthening the community.

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Who is Andrés?

Andrés moved to Copenhagen in late 2020 and quickly became a big part of the city’s music scene. He’s been playing, producing, and creating music for more than twenty years and, in Copenhagen, has played a big role in building communities around authentic and fair representation of culture, especially shaping a space for Latin American immigrants in the city. He works as a photographer and videographer, often telling stories around Black and Latin American culture and heritage, and he’s been involved in community events, spaces, talks, and gatherings with a focus on music, race, inclusivity, and representation.

Over the past six years, Andrés has become someone people know they can count on. Someone who shows up, contributes, and helps create room for others.

Now, after everything he has given to this community, this is a moment where we come together finally move toward real recovery.

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Andrés’ situation in the middle of the injury

Andrés is not a Danish or EU citizen and is still waiting for permanent residency, which means he isn’t eligible for disability or injury-related financial support in Denmark. For the past year, while going through intense physical rehabilitation, he has been living off his savings. Those savings are now gone, and he needs the support of his community to get through this next stage.

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What does the fundraising help with?

We want to help Andrés cover medication and basic living costs during his recovery. He won’t have an income during this period, so the funds will go toward rent, food, transport to medical appointments, and the everyday expenses that don’t stop just because life does.

What your donations help cover:

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Call to action

It hasn’t been easy for Andrés to ask for help. He’s someone who gives a lot and finds vulnerability difficult. But his friends, family, and the wider community have encouraged him to trust the people around him and that’s what this fundraiser is about.

If you've ever shared a moment with Andrés — at an event, in a studio, or simply in life — this is a chance to give something back. No amount is too small. Every contribution goes directly toward keeping him stable, supported, and safe while he heals.

We’ll share updates here and on social media. Community has always been at the centre of Andrés’ work, and we want to honour that now.

Beyond donating, there will be ways to get involved: a party, an auction, and more. Come help us raise funds for Andrés — and help him grow a new leg.

Thank you for being part of this <3