Hospital Bills for Comic Artist Dan Conner

Dan Conner is a jack-of-all-trades in the comics community. Not only did he create his own worlds with My Gal, The Zombie and Heaven Forbid, but he lent his incredible coloring skills to series such as The Nightmare Before Christmas and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Outside of his professional career, where he’s collaborated with countless artists and publishers, Dan is also one of the kindest people, who treats all friends like family. He is the type of friend who will always try to bring a little present whenever friends meet up with him for lunch. He’ll show up with a Diet Coke when you’re exhausted at Comic Con, and he’ll be at your local band show on a Tuesday night and work on his laptop so he doesn’t miss a deadline. He is a thoughtful and caring person, a talented artist who works tirelessly to put out amazing comics, and most of all, a loving father to two of the sweetest kids on the planet.
(Dan with his father, Phil, at a comic con in Las Vegas)

On October 3rd, Dan was rushed to the hospital. In his weak and chronically fatigued state, he worried he had COVID-19. However, his test came back negative for coronavirus, and the doctors discovered he had Acute ALP Leukemia. His white blood cell count was dangerously low. He was isolated in the ICU and not allowed any visitors due to his critically weak immune system. By October 5th, his illness had drastically escalated and the doctors put him in a medically induced coma. During that time, Dan was not only battling leukemia, but also pneumonia, kidney failure, and a blood infection. 
(Dan, showing off his purple glasses and April O'Neil shirt. Dan LOVES the Ninja Turtles!)

The hospital staff said that if he did not get medical attention when he did, he would have died that weekend. 
(Enjoying a cup of coffee from a Spider-Man mug!)

Dan woke up from his coma on October 19th. While he was awake and answered questions by blinking or nodding, he struggled with Encephelopathy (brain malfunction) and was not “fully there.” However, on October 21st, he stopped responding entirely and became delirious and was hallucinating. 


On October 22nd, the situation became so dire that the hospital told his parents, Dee and Phil, to fly out from Florida so they could say goodbye to their son. They sent a text to loved ones: “Dear Family & Friends, Phil and I got a call from the hospital. Dan has declined. They said to come.” Dee and Phil rushed to Denver on October 24th. Fortunately, Dan miraculously gained consciousness before their arrival, so instead of saying goodbye to their son, Dee and Phil got to see their son smile.
(Dan, awake to enjoy his first actual meal after being on a feeding tube for weeks!)

After testing negative for COVID-19, Dee and Phil were permitted to individually spend half a week with him. During that time, Dan was stable—but still in critical condition. He was on three different chemo treatments, dialysis for his kidneys, and required a breathing tube. Having his parents there with him really helped keep him on a path to healing. 


Dan continues to recover. Everyday, he grows stronger and stronger. 
(On the way to recovery!)

However, Dan now has to overcome the financial burden of this health crisis. Dan loves to give more than receive—and hates asking for anything. So, his loved ones are asking you to please help. Whatever you donate will be cherished and help Dan pay his hospital bills and other life expenses, such as his mortgage, medicine, and food until he’s back on his feet and resumes his full time job as a credit adviser. Any amount helps and we would all be so grateful for you supporting Dan in his recovery. 


Thank you for taking the time to read this. Dan is receiving the best care, and thanks to the critical attention of our Healthcare workers as well as all prayer and financial support we give him, we can help bring Dan back to his feet, his comics, and his family.
(Dan at a comic con in Fort Carson.)