My name is Daniel Griffith, and I am a recreational sumo competitor, active LARPer, DnD nerd and IT professional. During a recent sumo tournament, I suffered a serious wrist injury—a scapholunate (SL) ligament tear, also known as a fall tear.

I knew almost immediately that this injury was serious. When I was a teenager, I had an accident where muscles displaced over my ankle bone, and that required surgery. This time, when I felt the muscles in my wrist move over the bone, I thought, "That feels like surgery."

Initial X-rays suggested it was just a sprain. I told the doctor I believed it was worse and asked how we could confirm it. With no insurance, I paid entirely out of pocket—$450 for the initial doctor visit, $250 for the MRI, and another $200 for the follow-up appointment, where they agreed that surgery was necessary. In total, I spent nearly $900 just to be told what I already knew.

I currently do not have health insurance. As a contractor, insurance is not offered through my company, and self-pay insurance premiums have become extremely expensive. When prices went up, I made the silly decision to go without coverage, because I enjoy having a home and food. I never imagining I would need surgery—until now.

At one point, I seriously considered flying to Turkey to have the surgery done. Even with airfare (around $1,000) and the procedure itself (approximately $8,000), it could still be more affordable than options here. Unfortunately, communication and scheduling delays have been severe, and I don't want to wait any longer knowing this surgery already comes with a six-month recovery timeline. Delaying further only risks worsening the injury and extending recovery even more.

All funds raised through this GoFundMe will go directly toward covering the cost of the surgery and related medical expenses. This surgery is not just about returning to sport—it's about restoring stability, avoiding long-term damage, and being able to live and work without persistent pain.

Asking for help is hard for some people. It doesn't come naturally to everyone. But I believe in relying on and trusting people when they are able to help. Please don't give if you can't afford to—truly. I appreciate any and all support, whether that's donating or simply sharing this fundraiser.

As Captain Reynolds said:

"If you can’t run, you crawl. If you can’t crawl, you find someone to carry you."

Right now, I need a little help being carried.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for any kindness or support you're able to offer.