Dave O'Neal's Recovery Fund
Donation protected
To Dave's many benefactors near and far,
Our dear friend and colleague Dave was struck by a hemorrhagic stroke on the morning of Wednesday, December 6, while out of town on business in Boulder, Colorado. He underwent a four-hour surgery to remove a mass of blood that had accumulated after a vessel ruptured in the cerebellum. It has been a long journey since then, with setbacks at the start of rehab, a return to intensive care at Foothills Hospital, and a range of ups and downs while transitioning to inpatient care and recuperative therapies. And although it hasn't been easy, he has been in recovery—and the outlook for him to recover fully or mostly fully are promising. But there's still a long road ahead.
Far from home, Dave and his husband Eric have faced astronomically high obstacles, and preparing for Dave's needed longterm rehabilitation has been far from easy. Eric has had to stay away from home and travel daily in unfamiliar territory to meet with a vast range of doctors, nurses, therapy staff, social workers, and more.
Most importantly, after many days of intensive research and endless phone calls we have learned that the best stroke rehabilitation resources in the Colorado area are at or near maximum capacity, and Dave's chances for quick access to necessary rehabilitation in the Boulder/Denver area are slim. To promote the best possible outcomes for Dave's recovery, he will need daily intensive rehab therapies as soon as possible.
It's time to help Dave get home.
This fundraiser is to organize our community of friends, family, and allies to help cover the costs of a medical transport to carry Dave from Colorado back home to Boston, where he will be better served by close access to a broad network of friends and the Boston area's world-class medical facilities. Needless to say, this is no simple task, and it comes with substantial costs.
Eric and his team of supporters are hoping, with medical clearance, to get a flight for Dave by the first two weeks of January. Estimated costs will be in the range of $12,000 to $25,000, depending especially on the degree of medical expertise that's determined necessary to accompany Dave so that he can make the journey safely.
We are hoping that, together, we can help cut his transport costs as much as possible and help cover these fees.
Please help Dave get back to Boston ASAP by giving as much as you can today. With 80 donations of $100 , we'll make it. But all donations, no matter how small, are extraordinarily appreciated and make a huge difference in helping Dave's recovery.
With love and gratitude from all of us supporting Dave and his recovery.
To learn more about Dave's story and updates on his status, follow this link and subscribe to his page on CaringBridge.
--UPDATE 12.28.17--
Incredibly, we met our $8,000 goal in less than 24 hours. This is simply overwhelming. No words of gratitude would suffice to thank you for your boundless kindness and generosity. All the same, thank you. Thank you so, so much.
As I know many still wish to contribute, I have raised the listed goal to $12,000. This would cover all or most of the costs of a minimum-staff medical flight, or halve the costs of a med. evac. flight with a higher degree of medical service. As the latter may very well be necessary, pending further evaluation from Dave's doctors, every further contribution to Dave's recovery fund will be hugely appreciated.
Thank you all for your kindness and overwhelming love for Dave.
--UPDATE 12.30.17--
You are all INCREDIBLE! As of last night, 12.29, your donations to Dave gathered an amazing $12,000 toward his medical transport costs. Thank you all so, so much. More information is available on the updates tab of this website, and future updates will continue to be brought to your attention as this fundraiser and Dave's journey home reach new milestones. For those who wish to contribute further to Dave's recovery effort in the days and weeks ahead, know that the fundraiser will still remain open through at least the end of January. Any and all donations go directly to Dave and Eric and make a huge impact. I just can't thank you enough. Here's to a bright New Year.
--UPDATE 1.5.2018--
Hooray! You did it! Dave gets to return home! Tomorrow he and Eric will be flying on a medical transport direct to Boston first thing in the morning with the plan to admit Dave to stroke rehab in the early afternoon. More info available from Eric on CaringBridge now and in the days to come. I will continue to update this fundraiser as is relevant.
But tonight we celebrate! Love and kindness makes the impossible possible! Thank you all!
Our dear friend and colleague Dave was struck by a hemorrhagic stroke on the morning of Wednesday, December 6, while out of town on business in Boulder, Colorado. He underwent a four-hour surgery to remove a mass of blood that had accumulated after a vessel ruptured in the cerebellum. It has been a long journey since then, with setbacks at the start of rehab, a return to intensive care at Foothills Hospital, and a range of ups and downs while transitioning to inpatient care and recuperative therapies. And although it hasn't been easy, he has been in recovery—and the outlook for him to recover fully or mostly fully are promising. But there's still a long road ahead.
Far from home, Dave and his husband Eric have faced astronomically high obstacles, and preparing for Dave's needed longterm rehabilitation has been far from easy. Eric has had to stay away from home and travel daily in unfamiliar territory to meet with a vast range of doctors, nurses, therapy staff, social workers, and more.
Most importantly, after many days of intensive research and endless phone calls we have learned that the best stroke rehabilitation resources in the Colorado area are at or near maximum capacity, and Dave's chances for quick access to necessary rehabilitation in the Boulder/Denver area are slim. To promote the best possible outcomes for Dave's recovery, he will need daily intensive rehab therapies as soon as possible.
It's time to help Dave get home.
This fundraiser is to organize our community of friends, family, and allies to help cover the costs of a medical transport to carry Dave from Colorado back home to Boston, where he will be better served by close access to a broad network of friends and the Boston area's world-class medical facilities. Needless to say, this is no simple task, and it comes with substantial costs.
Eric and his team of supporters are hoping, with medical clearance, to get a flight for Dave by the first two weeks of January. Estimated costs will be in the range of $12,000 to $25,000, depending especially on the degree of medical expertise that's determined necessary to accompany Dave so that he can make the journey safely.
We are hoping that, together, we can help cut his transport costs as much as possible and help cover these fees.
Please help Dave get back to Boston ASAP by giving as much as you can today. With 80 donations of $100 , we'll make it. But all donations, no matter how small, are extraordinarily appreciated and make a huge difference in helping Dave's recovery.
With love and gratitude from all of us supporting Dave and his recovery.
To learn more about Dave's story and updates on his status, follow this link and subscribe to his page on CaringBridge.
--UPDATE 12.28.17--
Incredibly, we met our $8,000 goal in less than 24 hours. This is simply overwhelming. No words of gratitude would suffice to thank you for your boundless kindness and generosity. All the same, thank you. Thank you so, so much.
As I know many still wish to contribute, I have raised the listed goal to $12,000. This would cover all or most of the costs of a minimum-staff medical flight, or halve the costs of a med. evac. flight with a higher degree of medical service. As the latter may very well be necessary, pending further evaluation from Dave's doctors, every further contribution to Dave's recovery fund will be hugely appreciated.
Thank you all for your kindness and overwhelming love for Dave.
--UPDATE 12.30.17--
You are all INCREDIBLE! As of last night, 12.29, your donations to Dave gathered an amazing $12,000 toward his medical transport costs. Thank you all so, so much. More information is available on the updates tab of this website, and future updates will continue to be brought to your attention as this fundraiser and Dave's journey home reach new milestones. For those who wish to contribute further to Dave's recovery effort in the days and weeks ahead, know that the fundraiser will still remain open through at least the end of January. Any and all donations go directly to Dave and Eric and make a huge impact. I just can't thank you enough. Here's to a bright New Year.
--UPDATE 1.5.2018--
Hooray! You did it! Dave gets to return home! Tomorrow he and Eric will be flying on a medical transport direct to Boston first thing in the morning with the plan to admit Dave to stroke rehab in the early afternoon. More info available from Eric on CaringBridge now and in the days to come. I will continue to update this fundraiser as is relevant.
But tonight we celebrate! Love and kindness makes the impossible possible! Thank you all!
Organizer and beneficiary
John Golebiewski
Organizer
Boulder, CO
Eric Brus
Beneficiary
