On July 29th, 2025, Dante Belmont fell three stories while trying to fix a window on a deteriorating ledge. The structure gave way beneath him, causing him to fall onto sharp rocks and down a ravine. He managed to land on his feet, saving his life, but the impact caused devastating injuries.

His left foot is broken and now held together with screws. His right foot suffered catastrophic damage; his talus bone popped out of his ankle, and his foot was nearly severed, held on only by tendons and skin. At the scene, I applied two tourniquets and elevated his leg to stop the bleeding by his instruction that he was able to give calmly despite the pain until paramedics arrived. When they eventually arrived, one of the paramedics foolishly stepped on his left foot, causing him immense pain. Even after yelling at him over and over, he just kept stepping on him.

Since then, Dante has faced not only physical trauma but also ongoing mistreatment at the hospitals we've been forced to rely on due to lack of insurance. In Hospital Pavia Yauco, he was separated from me despite not speaking Spanish, given a catheter without consent, and handled roughly while staff laughed at his reactions. He was left bleeding for hours before being transferred. Even when he would ask for help, the staff would look at him and laugh and just say, “Estupido gringo,” before walking away.

At Centro Médico de Puerto Rico, things haven't improved. He was again left alone for long stretches without updates or care. After surgery, nurses have been inattentive, dismissive, and even negligent, leaving his wounds exposed for hours, increasing the risk of infection.

We are fundraising to cover Dante's medical expenses, proper rehabilitation, and follow-up care so he can heal in an environment where he's treated with dignity and compassion.

Anything you can give will help us move toward that goal and ensure he has the chance to walk again.