David Bell Support Fund
Donation protected
Dave Bell has been a pillar to the Salt Lake climbing community for 30 some years. A crusher throughout, he helped to start some of the most iconic brands in the climbing industry, including Pusher and The Front Climbing Club (originally the Body Shop). For the last 20 years, he has been an organic vegetable farmer, bringing many in the outdoor community together every week to pick up their CSA share from his family farm. There are few that don't know his name, and there are even fewer that have been more socially influential and nurturing in the community than him.
In the spring of 2016, David was diagnosed with Stage 4 head and neck cancer. The prognosis has always been grim, but Dave wanted to try and red point this thing. After a year of various treatments including chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy, he is needing in-patient health care as the margin for error in his daily care is thin.
The healthcare industry and David’s insurance provider currently refuse to pay for any kind of in-patience rehabilitation or care and expect his family to care for him at home. There are a myriad of reasons why home care will not work at this point. David’s wife Jill (who has been a hero in managing his care and treatments so far) has a job and three kids at home with a fourth in Portland. Dave had been very hesitant to ask for help over the past year but, it now seems appropriate at this point.
So, here we are, trying to get him into an in-patient facility with hopes that basic physical therapy, nutrition, and care can create a greater baseline health to extend the time and platform for his current treatments to work (immunotherapy, 25% chance of results), and for new treatments to be started, including a new-to-the-market option (genotherapy treatment, 80% chance of results). Of course, in keeping a realistic view, if treatments fail, the funds would be put in a trust to be used for his children.
Quality in-patient care is $15k-$30k per month. We are likely to use Aspen Ridge Transitional Rehab in Murray. This care needs to start in the next day or two, as he is about to be released from a recent hospitalization. We are currently focused on raising $100k+. A non-profit is being setup so that donations can be tax deductible.
We will continue to try and convince David’s insurance that in-house care is needed, yet, we are unwilling to stand idle while that *%$& system makes decisions.
In the spring of 2016, David was diagnosed with Stage 4 head and neck cancer. The prognosis has always been grim, but Dave wanted to try and red point this thing. After a year of various treatments including chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy, he is needing in-patient health care as the margin for error in his daily care is thin.
The healthcare industry and David’s insurance provider currently refuse to pay for any kind of in-patience rehabilitation or care and expect his family to care for him at home. There are a myriad of reasons why home care will not work at this point. David’s wife Jill (who has been a hero in managing his care and treatments so far) has a job and three kids at home with a fourth in Portland. Dave had been very hesitant to ask for help over the past year but, it now seems appropriate at this point.
So, here we are, trying to get him into an in-patient facility with hopes that basic physical therapy, nutrition, and care can create a greater baseline health to extend the time and platform for his current treatments to work (immunotherapy, 25% chance of results), and for new treatments to be started, including a new-to-the-market option (genotherapy treatment, 80% chance of results). Of course, in keeping a realistic view, if treatments fail, the funds would be put in a trust to be used for his children.
Quality in-patient care is $15k-$30k per month. We are likely to use Aspen Ridge Transitional Rehab in Murray. This care needs to start in the next day or two, as he is about to be released from a recent hospitalization. We are currently focused on raising $100k+. A non-profit is being setup so that donations can be tax deductible.
We will continue to try and convince David’s insurance that in-house care is needed, yet, we are unwilling to stand idle while that *%$& system makes decisions.
Organizer and beneficiary
Dustin Buckthal
Organizer
Salt Lake City, UT
Jill Bell
Beneficiary
