Help Chebon Dacon Recover After a Devastating Fire Pit Tragedy

=> Update: August 16: A Setback on the Road to Recovery—But Chebon Is Still Fighting!

Dear friends, family, and generous supporters,

We wanted to share a quick update with you, and while it brings some tough news, it also brings an opportunity for all of us to rally once again around Chebon’s healing journey.

This week, Chebon was re-admitted to Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, after developing pneumonia, a serious complication, as well as a fall, which reinjured some of his wounds.

Thankfully, he is in good spirits, staying positive, and receiving excellent care from the team at Mercy. And if you know Chebon, you know his spirit is stronger than any setback.

“Setbacks make possible the next comeback.”

This is just one more mountain Chebon will climb—and he’s already climbing it with courage, resilience, and that unique Chebon spark.

Let’s Cheer Him On!

Now more than ever, we’re asking you—Chebon’s circle of love—to continue walking this road with him:

Drop a comment with encouragement

Share this update with others who care.

And if you're able, make a donation to support the ongoing medical costs. Your generosity is the wind beneath our sails.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for continuing to show up with kindness, generosity, and faith in his healing.

With love and gratitude,

Ellen, Florian & The Dacon Family

Stay tuned for more updates as we walk through this chapter together. And remember: Chebon has already overcome the impossible—this is just another step toward the comeback we all believe in.

Update: July 24 : A MILESTONE OF SURVIVAL

Chebon Has Been RELEASED From the ICU ! LET'S CELEBRATE!

Chebon spent 70 days in the Burn ICU, undergoing five major surgeries—including two amputations and extensive full-body skin grafts. Based on national care costs, his total medical bills have now surpassed $1.5 million.

And that figure doesn’t include the long year of uninsured rehabilitation still ahead.

Now, the news we’re overjoyed to share:

After 11 weeks in the Burn Center ICU, Chebon has graduated. He was discharged this week—and while the circumstances are far from ideal, we are incredibly grateful to have him alive and in our arms.

He is now staying in a rented Airbnb home near the hospital in Springfield, Missouri, under the full-time care of his wife Ellen and son Florian. His vital signs are stable, his mind is sharp, and his spirit is unbreakable.

⚠️ RELEASED - BUT WITHOUT MEDICAL SUPPORT!

Despite how far he’s come, Chebon was released not because he no longer needs medical care—but because his insurance has maxed out.

After 70 days of life-saving treatment, no professional nurse, therapist, or caregiver was sent with him. Instead, his wife Ellen was told:

“You are now the nurse. You are now the rehab provider. You are now everything.”

His hands and most of his body are still heavily wrapped. He’s able to walk a few steps and get to the commode, but everything else—from bathing to wound care to medication—requires constant support.

Tomorrow, Chebon returns to the hospital for another skin graft surgery, this time as an outpatient. It will be one of many more.

YOUR SUPPORT IS KEEPING US AFLOAT

Every donation has helped us get this far—we have purchased a Hospital Chair and equipment for his care with your donations, and can pay rent here to stay close to his doctors.

Now more than ever, your continued support means everything.

The journey ahead includes:

• Ongoing outpatient surgeries

• Daily burn wound care and medical supplies

• Full-time caregiving and living expenses

• Rehab therapy and equipment are no longer covered by insurance

This is a long road—likely a full year of recovery—and we’re walking it without a safety net. Thank you for helping us take the next steps.

With love and deep gratitude,

Ellen, Florian & The Dacon Family

P.S. These pictures are evidence of a MIRACLE IN OUR MIDST. We know this has been made possible through your love.

=> Update: July 6: Week 9 in ICU – A Warrior Surrounded by Love

Dear friends, family, and supporters,

It’s now been nine weeks since Chebon was admitted to the Burn Center ICU in Springfield, Missouri. He's been fighting through unimaginable pain, undergoing multiple surgeries, and bravely facing every single day with strength, spirit, and quiet determination.

The road has not been easy—but thanks to your love, prayers, and generous support, Chebon has come a very long way.

Just this week, we celebrated a small but deeply meaningful victory:

️ => NO MORE FEEDING TUBE!

This milestone may seem small to some, but for us, it’s a powerful sign of progress—another step forward in a recovery journey that has demanded every ounce of strength and patience.

Chebon continues to endure excruciating pain, persistent battles with infection, and the grueling aftermath of multiple skin graft surgeries.

Yet through it all, the love that surrounds him—from family to friends and supporters across the country—has become the healing balm that keeps him going.

THANK YOU! — AND PLEASE KEEP YOUR SUPPORT COMING!

We want to thank every single one of you (nearly 140 of you, so far!!) who have:

Your support has not only lifted our spirits—it’s also helping us face the enormous financial burden of long-term ICU burn care. Proceeds from this fundraiser go directly toward:

This journey is far from over. Chebon still has a long road ahead, and we humbly ask that you continue walking it with us through your generous support, prayers, and donations.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this circle of love.

With deepest gratitude,

Ellen Dacon and son, Florian

P.S. ART has always been part of Chebon’s spirit—and we believe the strength he poured into his work is now reflected back to him through your love.

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UPDATE: June 26 - CHEBON has the OU Boomer Sooner HAT on, and he is making the best of every day. Here, you can see his spirits are lifted as he gets ready for a phone call from two of his former football coaches, pictured here! Talk about a "shot in the arm"!

WOW, this Burn Center is buzzing with OU Fans now! Several of Chebon's surgeons and nurses are OU grads....wearing their OU hats as they visit his room!

Yesterday, Chebon had his 5th surgery, and today marks 7 weeks in the Mercy Burn Unit ICU. He has come a LONG way, baby! Yet there's a long way yet to go.

We could not do this without the generosity of each of you. Your donations, cards, phone calls, shares, and prayers - every single one of them means so much to us. Thank you, thank you.

Your donations will help us deal with the enormity of the medical bills we now face, which no one could have prepared us for.

You give us HOPE.

Please continue to SHARE THIS with your network and your communities. Chebon needs your support now more than ever.

THANK YOU!

From Ellen Dacon and son, Florian

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ORIGINAL POST: Dated 6/ 21/25

Help My Husband, Chebon Dacon, Recover After a Devastating Fire Pit Tragedy

My name is Ellen Dacon, and I’m reaching out with a heart shattered by tragedy and full of hope for a miracle.

On the evening of May 8th, during what was supposed to be a joyful family gathering, our lives were changed forever.

While we were all gathered inside preparing the table, Chebon—my husband, and well-known artist—went outside to put out the fire in the backyard fire pit, something he’s done so many times before with care. At some point, I noticed he had been gone too long. Minutes passed. Then more. But when he didn't come back, we went to check.

We discovered him unresponsive, face down in the charred logs—the damage already done before we could pull him out.

We still don’t know exactly how it happened—whether he slipped, lost his footing, or passed out—but what we do know is that he fell directly into the fire pit. Our family rushed to call 911 immediately. First responders arrived, and Chebon was airlifted to the Burn ICU at the Springfield, Missouri Mercy Hospital Burn Unit, where he has remained in critical condition for over six weeks.

A LONG, PAINFUL ROAD AHEAD

Chebon has suffered third-degree burns over 30% of his body. He is under heavy sedation and has already endured multiple surgeries, including two amputations (thumb and toe). The doctors are preparing us for:

Each day in the ICU brings new challenges and decisions we never thought we’d have to make. But Chebon is a fighter—and we are fighting right alongside him.

FOR CHEBON'S FANS, FRIENDS, AND FOLLOWERS

If you know Chebon, you know how deeply he has touched the lives of others as a gifted, passionate artist, OU athlete, and a proud Native American Muscogee (Creek). His art has reached thousands. His Facebook page, where he responded to every comment, every question, every kind word, has gone silent these past weeks—and so many of you have noticed.

This is why.

I know Chebon would want me to tell you what’s happened. I also know that if the roles were reversed, he would do everything in his power to help someone else going through this. That’s just who he is.

WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR HELP

The costs associated with Chebon’s recovery are beyond anything we ever imagined. While insurance covers some, the list of uncovered expenses grows every day:

Your support—whether it’s a donation, a share, or simply a prayer—will help lift this unbearable weight and give us a fighting chance to get Chebon the care he needs.

HELP US GET CHEBON BACK to the LIFE HE LOVES

Chebon’s art is an extension of his soul, and so is the way he’s shown up for people—family, friends, and fans. We want him to come back to that world, to his paints, to the canvas, and most of all, to us.

“His creativity has always been his therapy and his gift to the world—we dream of the day he can hold a brush again.”

PLEASE DONATE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO—every contribution, big or small, helps us take another step toward Chebon’s recovery. If you can’t give, you can still make an enormous difference by sharing this page with your community, your friends, and fellow art lovers. Your voice matters to Chebon.

Thank you for standing with us in this impossible moment. We are holding onto hope—and we are holding onto Chebon.

With love and gratitude,

From Ellen Dacon and our son, Florian

P.S. This fundraiser for Chebon Dacon is organized by Chebon's family, Ellen and Florian, his sister, Sandra Medrano, his dear friend Jay Upchurch, and his sister-in-law, Lynn Kitchen. We are thankful for your help in supporting Chebon during this time.”