Hi Everyone, I am here because I am scheduled to have a full hip replacement on August 3rd, which has come as a surprise for me. I have been dealing with acute pain for the last 6 months or so and have been working to get to the cause of it. I finally discovered through many doctors visits, that I have severe osteo-arthritis and deterioration in my left hip. Because of this I have had to cancel my summer tours with Tuba Skinny in Europe and our annual (and my personal favorite,) Northeastern tour. These summer gigs are the biggest chunk of my income as a musician, and without them I am put in an insecure financial position. I am hoping the bulk of the surgery and subsequent physical therapy will be covered by my health insurance. But even if it is, I will still need assistance securing a post-op rental that is more accessible for temporarily mobility issues. My tiny mountain home, while quaint, is steep and requires a lot of stair climbing . As a single mother, I will also need to outsource and seek childcare to ensure that my sons daily life will not have to come to a halt during this time as well. As a working musician, there are no benefits, options for sick days/paid leave etc. and helping to keep me afloat during this period will ensure that I can cover our cost of living, (rent, bills et al). I am hopeful that I will be up for the demands of gigging again towards the end of the year, especially if am able to focus on resting and taking care of myself during my recovery.

Thank you for reading this, and if you are able to contribute, I am deeply grateful. I hope to be back at it sooner than later, and if all goes well, feeling better than ever.

Sincerely,

Erika