Support Scott Stiffler's Recovery

UPDATE: 04/14/2022: After demonstrating required cane, walker, and stairclimbing skills, Scott was released from the hospital on Tuesday, April 5, and is back in Chelsea. His high pain level, limited mobility, and good days/bad days trajectory have left the former long-distance runner “easily fatigued but committed to achieving the most complete recovery possible, if only to validate the actions of so many friends, neighbors, colleagues, and allies. These donations are literally putting food on the table.”

ORIGINAL POSTING: Scott Stiffler, aka founder/editor of ChelseacommunityNews.com, was injured while entering a New York City subway car on the evening of Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022. The fall resulted in a state of temporary near-paralysis. Attended to immediately by concerned subway riders, paramedics soon arrived. He soon regained the ability to move all limbs and digits, but standing up and walking on his own remains a challenge.

 

After treatment at the Lenox Hill Grennwich Village facility on 13th St and 7th Ave ruled out the presence of brain damage/stroke he was transferred to Bellevue Hospital where he remains. After an MRI doctors identified fractured vertebrae. The injury was complicated by the presence of heretofore undiagnosed arthritis. Scott’s medical team presented him with the option of healing on his own or surgery, each option with its own unique risks and rewards.

 

Scott opted for the doctor recommended surgical option, and after leaving careful instructions for what to do with his Golden Girls mug in the event of untimely demise, went under the knife the morning of Wednesday of March 30th, 2022. The estimated 3-5 hour surgery clocked in at 8.5 hours and a very pleased surgical team.

 

Despite the overall positive outcome of the surgery, it is impossible to predict the scope and time frame of recovery. Scott expects to be in a home care situation on the third floor of his walk-up West Chelsea apartment within a week at which point he will proceed ahead. The neck brace he’s been sporting since the accident is expected to remain another 3 months, as is his habit of stress eating peanut butter cups. As you may imagine, the costs associated with these recent events present their own challenge.

 

As Scott focuses his (albeit seemingly boundless) energy and optimism on recovery, donations to help fund these costs via this campaign will be appreciated and accepted. If you instead wish to facilitate the well-being of his news/arts/info website ChealseacommunityNews.com donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/x7yk6-chelseacommunitynewscom where all donations are spent on editorial content for the website. Scott expects to post new content by no later than mid-April.

 

Scott is witty, generous, snarky, hilarious, and one of a kind, but more importantly his loved. During this time, please share your love and support as you’re able so he can get back on his feet as quickly as possible. As a community newspaper editor, this experience has opened his eyes to the full power and potential of the community he serves. His gratitude cannot be overstated, and he’s truly grateful and humbled by the outpouring of love and support from near and far.