My name is Damian. I've created this GoFundMe on behalf of a childhood friend named Brock. I met Brock when I was a senior in high school and he was a freshman. This was early '97 and I moved out of our hometown in late '98, so I didn't know him long, but it also didn't take long to see Brock is one of the coolest, most intelligent, and creative people I could know.

We bonded over a love for filmmaking, even trying to make a few together, but he ultimately found his calling in music. He was a gifted lyricist and free-styling rapper, and as he was exploring that world, I went off to explore my own. We lost touch until Facebook came along, but we were really just acquaintances at that point, both of us too busy trying to make it on our talents.

He pivoted into rock 'n roll, taught himself guitar and piano, and lived a rock star lifestyle for a time. Though 20 months sober now, that took a toll on him physically, but it also drove a wedge between him and others. Not having a safety net meant traveling from town to town getting whatever work he could, which was typically demo at construction sites. This is where Brock's recent troubles started.

Brock is currently in the hospital awaiting hernia surgery. Without it, he cannot conceivably obtain and maintain employment. He asked if I wanted to see it and I told him no, because I could already see it jutting out under his shirt. The pain must be unbearable. He is in good hands and Medicaid will take care of the medical bills, but he is going to need assistance during and after recovery.

If I could provide all of that support, I would, but I'm simply not in a position to do so right now, and his situation is dire. He doesn't need much, just enough to be able to get a cheap place to stay while he recovers from surgery, and then enough for groceries and gas to start looking for and going to work. Anything beyond that, which is worth requesting, would go toward reclaiming what he lost this past year.

You see, he recently had to pawn off all of his music equipment just to get back to Florida from California and into our hospital system. But he was in the middle of self-producing an album. He was able to release a portion of that album on July 4th, and let me tell you, his songs are amazing! Each one of them is radio-worthy. Check it out for yourself on iTunes!

You know how GoFundMe works, if everyone can give just a little, and start that snowball effect, you can change lives. This guy doesn't deserve the cards he's been dealt and we cannot let his talent go to waste. So let's change his life. Let's get him on track toward the life he deserves, one where he can continue making beautiful music in return for our graciousness. I'll happily get us started.

I figure first and last for a quiet place is going to be around $2K. He'll use the rest for recovering and taking time to find a stable job - $250 a week, giving him about 6 weeks to recover and get back on his feet. Any questions, feel free to ask.