Dan Aren's Medical Support

Dan and Angie are the kindest, most giving people we know.  They are always quietly doing for others, never asking anything in return.  You may know Angie through The Neighborhood School, where she has taught for many years.  Many of you may know them through their daughter, Fallin, who attended Children’s Community School and is currently in 8th grade at Topanga Mountain School.  We are their community.  They need us now.

Over three weeks ago, Dan went to the ER after 2 days of terrible stomach pain, fever and elevated heart rate.  He was admitted to Tarzana Hospital and stayed there for over two weeks, much of it in the ICU. The doctors were stumped.  His organs were all shutting down. Eventually, they removed his gallbladder, but he was only home for a week before he was readmitted.  He had a fever, was in terrible pain and his hemoglobin levels were plummeting, a very bad sign.  The doctors still have no answers, running test after test, trying to figure it out and keep Dan alive.  He is in constant pain, and on a morphine drip.  He has lost twenty pounds in 3 weeks!  He is only 41.  The doctors said that if he was not in such great physical shape from working out 6 days a week, he certainly wouldn’t have survived this far.  At this point, the doctors are also telling the family to be prepared:  whatever it is, it will likely be a long battle ahead, and Dan will need constant care.  

Angie is by his side 24 hours a day, except when she has left briefly to take care of their daughter, Fallin, or to work a few hours to cover their health insurance.  Dan has not earned a paycheck for a month, and Angie is not working, in order to be at his side.  (She told me that she loves her pre-school students so much, that even leaving them in this emergency makes her worry about them.)  Angie and Dan are not people of means, and this is an incredible financial blow.   

Angie’s parents are in poor health too, so the support system is fragile.

Dan cannot be moved to a different hospital because they have HMO, not PPO insurance.  The cost differential is totally beyond their means.

Let’s show Dan and Angie what a caring community is about.  Please donate what you can to help them, so Angie can focus on getting the care Dan needs.   Any amount is helpful.

Moral and care support is also welcome.  As soon as we have more information, we will let you know about potential meal trains or other ways in which you can help.

Thank you for showing your compassion and your love.  

And please help get the word out!  Thank you!