Andi, my place of work has started opening up more positions where people can work via remote access from wherever. I can take a look to see if there's anything open right now. As ND asked, what field? Something computerish, yes?

the tissues are still going to have to heal and rebuild, like with a burn.

I still have scarring from my bout of stupidity-aggravated infection. My shins look like I've been severely injured, and I sometimes catch people staring at them in horror. It took a couple of years to get the gumption to say "Fuck it, I'm wearing shorts."

But it is slowly receding. Slowly. I have a private bet with myself on whether I'll be dead before the red areas have faded, but I'll always have the round scars that look like I was in a gunfight with gnomes.

As ND asked, what field? Something computerish, yes?

He's currently a help desk guy. I think that perhaps one of the things he needs help with, is to brainstorm ideas for getting away from the tech world, while maintaining a decent level of income and benefits.

What does he want to do?

Sometimes doing similar things in different environments can be an improvement. I work for a non-profit, and IT there seems to have reasonable hours and expectations and good benefits. My department's kinda screwy (although I'm getting moved away from the more dysfunctional bits--yay!), but IT seems well run and sane. If Daniel's interested, there are usually some good non-profit job listings here: [link]

I think that perhaps one of the things he needs help with, is to brainstorm ideas for getting away from the tech world, while maintaining a decent level of income and benefits.

Some people like the book What Color Is Your Parachute? -- it's been years since I looked at it, but IIRC, one of the things it does is help the reader with figuring out things like What Do I Want To Do? and What Field Do I Want To Do It In?, etc.

I think it gets updated pretty regularly, so you may want to check the library -- he could look through it while he's recuperating.

Sometimes doing similar things in different environments can be an improvement. I work for a non-profit, and IT there seems to have reasonable hours and expectations and good benefits.

I was going to say something similar -- are you anywhere close enough to a decent-sized university to look for work there? Pay is often not great but benefits are excellent; some of the bigger unis maintain their own temp pools, which is a great way to get the uni experience you usually need in order to get a uni job (and at least half the people I know at my uni, including myself, started out as temps who eventually lucked into the right position and got offered a permanent place). And the atmosphere is, for all its frequent awfulness and dysfunction, awful and dysfunctional in a way that's much more tolerable for many people than the corporate world. Or, at least, that's been my experience. And it (or, as Sail points out, anything in the nonprofit/public sector) might also be a better, happier, less toxic atmosphere for Daniel.

Does he have disability benefits? Can he use those while he heals and figures it out?

I was going to suggest IT work for a city/county govt or school district less pay, better hours, and usually better long term benefits

IT may not be where he wishes to stay , however, working in a job that does not take over you life can give you enough room to do some exploring

working in a job that does not take over you life can give you enough room to do some exploring

Yes, exactly. A job that lets you go home at 5 and not check in until 8 the next morning can allow you to volunteer, take classes, and otherwise look for a different career path that suits you better. A fulltime+ job eats a big chunk out of ones day. It would be a shame to spend that much time being miserable.