Rackin' Frakin' Cancer messed with the wrong dude.
HI, I'm Scott. Thanks for taking the time to look here.
I 'm starting this charitable campaign to fund general expenses during my treatment as well as medications. If you donate as little as $50 I will send you an original painting on canvas.
I made a recent Facebook post explaining to my friends and family that I have both lung and brain cancer:
https://www.facebook.com/xlozolx/posts/10157606183786833
The heartfelt way that they responded, and how quick people were to come to my aid was humbling. Please scroll down to where it says "humbled" to read the details of my reaction if you haven't already before going any further.
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Leehem and I live alone here, and she spends most of her time caring for me during treatment these days.
I have radiation treatment everyday m-f and I have Chemo on Fridays too. Usually, I have at least a few other appointments at the cancer center for one reason or another during the week as well. It takes up much of my time. No one tells you that having cancer is a full time job without pay. I guess I just did. yea, it is. So, now you know too.
Due to Chemotherapy and radiation treatment, I currently have no Income to provide for basic expenses like food,
medications and shelter during treatment. I will also be having cranial surgery to remove the tumor from my brain soon.
If you are able to help us financially in any way at all we would be very grateful. There is no minimum donation amount.
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I have had several finished large scale paintings for sale online recently. I intend to "give" these away with donations. It feel good for me to know that you will be getting something tangible in return for your generosity and empathy.
You will get a painted canvas for any gift $50 or more.
For details please on what to expect, or to buy an already finished painting, please look here:
If you would like a painting of a specific size, color, shape, or to evoke a certain feeling, please click here.
https://www.xlozolx.com/commissions
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Just over 3 months go, I found myself where I wanted to be after almost 20 years in the tattoo industry. I have a very comfortable shop to work in of my design. I get to work with my daughter everyday. I have no employees to manage. I can simply tattoo and earn a good living doing so. I earned it. After 3 weeks of that awesome nice and chill daily grind. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER. FRAK! Terrible timing indeed. I was told on day one by a lung surgeon that I would only survive for weeks without treatment. When I entered the hospital my ALWAYS PAID ON TIME insurance worked fine. Five days later when I left the hospital I learned that the insurance company had dropped me. My case is currently on appeal. Well, four months later. I'm doing well. I was in fairly good shape when I was diagnosed and I think that is serving me well. We got this. I'm in generally good spirits despite wtfe and ready to move ahead. Let's do this.
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Please take a look at my paintings. I was always planning on making a transition into taking painting more seriously as my 9-5 job this year. Maybe this will give me a jump start. After all, I was just an art student who saw that tattoos could feed my family 20 years ago. Now that they are mostly grown and on their own. I'm gonna try to take some time to be sure that I simply paint to paint. Life is too short to do anything else.
One of the mantras in our house when raising kids was "Do good stuff get good stuff". I really have faith in this idea. I have faith in you.
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"humbled" - My initial response to the attention my original facebook post about my illness got:
I am so grateful for your uber posi reactions to this post. I'm humbled by them. It's just the fuel I needed internally. Thanks again.
Please give me some advice if you can spare the time. If you don't like reading feel free to skip ahead to "ADVICE NEEDED:" dumdum...
{I want you to know firstly that my youngest daughter Leehem has stepped up to the plate when it comes to being there to care for me during this BS. I am so proud of her. She lives here next to my house, above the shop. She has put her life and plans aside.... for me... as of late. She deserves nothing but the best for her efforts. Her and I don't really get many visitors but it's been ok. I have been able to concentrate on getting better and getting what we both need to get by.}
Friends and family will often say since I've been sick "Let me know if you need anything"... which is so great!!! From my perspective though, now that I'm feeling better I don't really need anyone to cook me meals or do the things I have needed help with for most part, in the past three months. I want to care for myself as much as possible, it's simple. What we need is money to get our head above water again. Leehem and I live alone here and there has been no income during this time. Period. I may be sick on the inside but I'm still me. Plain speaking or no speaking please.
It's a hard truth that doesn't get talked about enough in these situations. I am two months behind on rent, bills are due, and we need groceries. Simple. These are some of the underlying harsh realities of having cancer in america today.
I have been out of work and without any income for three months. I had a decent amount of savings that went quickly.
I tried to get a loan both personally and through my business but I already have over $175,000.00 in medical debt that has destroyed my credit score. I was DEBT FREE before this. I feel like I wasted a month trying to get a loan. I was naive. I have never gotten a loan before. I don't even do so for cars. I pay cash for what I can afford then and there only. I thought that after over 20 years as a person working hard for themselves without financial help of this kind, would have no problem letting that experience overshadow the last 3 months of no income at all. I was wrong. I have spent two decades in this industry preparing and training other artists for full licensure. I have also always worked toward just having my own little place and working on my own part time until I didn't want to anymore as "semi retirement" (not really pfft). I DID IT!!! I was able to do that for THREE WEEKS, and then I was diagnosed. True story.
Today I set my first tattoo appointments in 3 months. I'm gonna work tomorrow. I think I'm ready. I'll see how these little tattoo sits go first for a day or two, then go from there. I turn down at least 3-4 tattoos a day at this point. I certainly have the work to do if I want it. Moving forward I can pay the bills this way no worries. It's what has piled up in the last few months that's the problem.
If I can't raise past due rent though.... Leehem and I have no where to work OR to live. I live onsite at my business. My landlord is awesome but I am more than overextended. He trusts me based on the last 5 years together and I want to keep that trust alive. He is also a friend.
So....
ADVICE NEEDED:
Do I do a crowd funding thing?
If so do you have experience with this kind of thing?
Are there thing you can tell me that may help me to succeed?
I have no choice at this point but to do something like this. To ask. It's a very difficult thing to do. I am not a foolish enough to think that money comes as easily as thoughts and prayers do. I guess I'm just looking for someone I trust and respect to say that's ok. The support I got to this post inspired me. I know that some of you are in no position to help in this way and some are. I don't want to make anyone feel pressure that's for sure. I talked to my friend Nicole about this and she clicked a dollar sign in the window and sent me enough to get some food today btw right in this window!! Thanks Nic!! <3
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I FEEL LIKE I CAN BEAT THIS.
I just need your help.
www.xlozolx.com
Scott Farrell
4220 Nicollet Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55409
(612) [phone redacted]
[email redacted]