Chris Chandler in ICU - moving to Rehabilitation Hospital - Austin TX - February 2026

“I’m better enough to know where better is and I can point myself in that direction.”

- Chris Chandler

********************************************

Hey everybody, sorry it’s taken me a moment to chime in after my accident on February 1st.

I’ve been in the ICU emergency unit in Austin TX - after a traumatic brain injury accident on the job - for over a week now, and unable to really look at anything.

Luckily, I have one of the coolest teams in the world.
Austin is the greatest town in the universe and people have been helping out like crazy.
Thank you to all.

**************

I was pulled out of ICU today and into a rehabilitation hospital.

We’re hopeful after some therapy and exercise I can start to get back into the swing of things.
This may take some time. Its going to be a long road.

**************

I’ve been working as a Stagehand pretty much all of my life (OK OK, subsidizing my lucrative storytelling career.) It’s a lot to tell and I've needed help getting my newsletter out. Normally, it would’ve come out on the first, but this incident interrupted it.

**************

Paul and I hope to get out on the road as soon as I am able. We were hoping for April, but understand that it might not be in the cards. Thank you for your patience as I attempt to gather my health. We will keep you updated, and see you on the road soon... I'd love to hear from you, drop me a line.

**************

So the long and short of it is, I’m not making any money right now and one of my dearest friends has set up a GOFUNDME fundraiser.

Thanks to all of you who have contributed so generously, and sent such love and support.

GOFUNDME - LINK For CHRIS CHANDLER ..

(Additional ways to support Chandler see below)

********************************************

Many thanks to all family, friends - and my communities of Stage Hands (especially STAGE ALLIANCE and IATSE - 205), Kerrville Folk Festival, Oregon Country Fair, High Sierra Music Festival and all performer/entertainer communities and supporters - all of you who are helping me through this difficult time. Insert your name here.

Special thanks to Amy Sue Berlin, Jena Kirkpatrick, Rachel German, Jen Delyth, Irina Astra, Blake Addyson - I couldn't do this without you.

********************************************

Here is my new video I was finishing before the accident.

TONIGHT / FIREHOSE Chris Chandler and Paul Benoit Video

TONIGHT / FIREHOSE - Chris Chandler & Paul Benoit Video

********************************************

FIREHOSE - by Chris Chandler

I feel everything and nothing simultaneously.

Pity and anger flow from the same spigot.

A fire hose of emotions pointed away from the flames

because I just want to roast marshmallows on this dumpster fire.

I feel everything and nothing simultaneously.

****

I love you, but how can I?

When numbness enshrines this broken kaleidoscope

aimed at the heavens, masking the stars.

I hate you, but fear not for I hate everybody,

which is kinda like hating no one at all.

I would love to say, “I hate no one,” but I can’t.

Only because I love so much

I no longer recognize my own emotions.

*****

I am so numb, I can’t even feel my own hatred.

I can’t feel the compassion, the sorrow, the empathy, the joy.

Perhaps I have simply lost my trust in human beings.

Dang, I love human beings, or at least I did.

I will miss you.

That loss is something one can never get back.

*****

Perhaps it is, that I have lost my faith.

Its broken.

Shattered.

It has had a great fall ....

and all the kings horses and all the kings men

should just have their heads placed in a guillotine once and for all.

*****

Perhaps it is the betrayal of a stranger

or maybe the devotion of an enemy,

that has publicly gone on the down low

to give handjobs to inanimate objects.

*****

The flowers are rusting

and the robots are taking target practice.

No one will ever forgive me for giving a damn.

*****

How can the world be upside down

when the infinite knows no direction at all.

No up.

No downside.

But somehow it is just that:

Upside down.

****

Our limp compass drifts aimlessly.

The North Star is anonymous in this lonely galaxy.

Even the excellence of a world,

whose excellence cannot seem to be denied,

can not even out run its own stupidity.

And I do not know how to feel about it.

********************************************

Here are a few pictures of Chris with friends - support "team" in Austin TX - ICU and now the Rehabilitation Hospital in Austin TX

Chris Chandler after admission to ICU - Austin TX - February 2026

Chris Chandler with Amy Sue Berlin

Chris Chandler with Jena Kirkpatrick and Irina Astra

Chris Chandler with Rachel German

Chris Chandler and Irina Astra

Chris Chandler with Amy Sue Berlin and Jena Kirkpatrick on Superbowl Sunday

Chris Chandler with Raina Krause

Chris doing much better - dapper in Rehabilitation Hospital

A happy moment  - thanks to the love pouring his way.

********************************************

Ways to support:

GOFUNDME: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-chandler-heal-from-traumatic-brain-injury

Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/thechrischandlershow

Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/baldchandler

To be a continuing supporter
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheChrisChandlershow