Hi, I’m the LA artist Precious Child. I do independent outreach to the unhoused in Los Angeles with friends. Every week, we bring them food, water, and medical supplies. We are not affiliated with any organizations or groups, we are just people who've decided to take action against our city's ongoing human rights catastrophe- its inability to feed, shelter, and clothe the people who live within it.

This past week, amidst the wildfires, we found an unhoused man, Freddy with a terrible burn. And despite us getting him antibiotics, his leg is swollen with severe cellulitis, or infection of the soft tissue.

This is a Staphylococcus or MRSA infection. He likely got this infection because of his living conditions. He lives on a dusty patch by a road and despite the wound being covered, it's a pathogen laden environment.

The issue is that the via the breach of the skin via the burned tissue, obviously virulent bacteria has entered his skin and muscle. The immune system reacts to this, fluid and pus accumulates, and the leg swells.

Freddy's condition is also exacerbated by the hardship of living on the street. In the winds that have caused the fires, his tent is being torn apart on a nightly basis and it's extremely difficult to stay warm. Additionally, of wildfire smoke puts a huge strain on the immune system. This may sound unintuitive but smoke introduces fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and toxic chemicals which cause inflammation, oxidative stress. This constant exposure impairs overall immune function.

We have visited multiple times, changing his dressings and treating his wounds properly but the condition of his leg has worsened and it has swollen even more.

He needs housing for the wound to heal properly, but city can't help him. Technically, he qualifies for programs, but the machinery moves too slowly. We had a doctor friend remotely examine him probono, and he said that if he doesn’t get treatment—IV antibiotics and a clean environment—the infection could rapidly progress, and he could lose his leg or die.

We started this GoFundMe to get medical transport, recuperative housing, and medical expenses covered for Freddy.

Over time with our outreach, we get to know a lot of people personally. They’re people too, like you and me. They deserve medical care, food, and shelter!

Please help us get it for Freddy. The unhoused have few resources, often with no social safety nets. People like Freddy need help immediately, or they will die.

Please donate and share—every buck helps.

Thank you.

Funds for Wildfire Freddy.

ALL FUNDS WILL BE USED IN ENTIRETY FOR FREDDY'S CARE.

---SEE BELOW FOR PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES.

Motel to recuperate and clean wound, elevate leg, get good sleep, be in climate controlled room

$140 x 14 days ‎ = $1960

----rates are high now because yes, hotel chains have raised prices in response to the fires

Transportation to hospital and back as needed

$30 x 5 ‎ = $150

Clean clothes for two weeks

$100

Medical Supplies and Expenses- this may or may not be covered and is a placeholder. Hospital will not provide overnight care for this infection.

$100