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Memorial Fund for Daniel C Lewis (Original)

UPDATE 12-21-20We had to create a new Go Fund Me page as this one has expired as Go Fund Me will not let you renew a Fundraiser for more than 1 year. If you would like to donate to this cause please donate here https://www.gofundme.com/f/q2ermd-memorial-fund-for-daniel-c-lewis

UPDATE. Instead of increasing the goal we are going to leave it at the 9k. Please keep giving beyond that as the more we raise the more people we can help. We have no limit on the number of people needing assistance with the treatment. 

Daniel C Lewis born 5-4-82 and passed away during a tragic accident at our parents house in Fremont WI, on 8-11-19.  We were having a family cookout, and everyone was having a great time.   We'd just finished playing a few games of Corn Hole toss.  He had just whooped his brother Byron (Pictured above on the left with Mom in the center and Danny on the right) and was hot and wanted to take a swim in the pond to cool off.

Like all of us brothers have done a thousand times throughout our lives,  he decided to dive into the pond from shore....... thinking he would have fun with all his nieces and nephews by diving over the plastic dinghy boat they were all playing in.  Tragic struck and something went wrong.  We are not 100% sure what happened, and not sure we will ever truly know, but he never came back up after that.  Shortly after one of his brothers noticed him floating in the water face down.

That is when we all jumped into action pulling him onto shore and starting CPR, while his sister Jill called 911.  Twelve or more of his nieces and nephews looked on in horror and shock.  We all took turns doing CPR and compressions for what felt like an hour but in reality was 10-15 minutes until the first responders arrived and took over.  He was taken to a hospital but in the end nothing any of us could do was enough and his time had come.  At age 37 Dan was gone.  Taken too soon from this life by a tragic accident, while just having fun and playing with the kids.

For those who come across this story it does not end there.  Dan had struggled since his teenage years with mental disorders, and was finally diagnosed in his 30's with  PTSD, Depression, and being Bi-Polar.  He struggled for years with different treatments and medications but none of them ever truly helped. 

Finally one day someone had mentioned a new treatment that had not been FDA approved yet, nor covered by insurance, called Ketamine Injections.  After learning that the insurance company would not cover the $3000+ treatment cost he was devastated.  Danny had struggled to hold down a job with everything going on in his life, and our parents offered to scrounge up the little extra money they had to pay for this treatment.

That was just about a month ago now and for the first time in 15 plus years Danny was back to his old self.  He wasn't sleeping 18 hours a day and wasn't always exhausted.  He was sleeping normal hours, and getting up and doing things and engaging with family and friends.  He was truly a new person.  This was the first treatment that finally worked for him.  We were so excited to have him back and spent that Sunday afternoon listening to his plans for things he wanted to do, and people he wanted to get back in touch with, and relationships he wanted to mend.  

He had just finished an amazing project for a friends son that he spent 80 hours on, building a pirate ship for a child's 5th birthday party later this month, out of pallets on a shoestring budget.  His brother Byron helped him scrounge up pallets and he was showing everyone all the pictures at the cookout, and he was wanting to build more things for kids.  Danny was always someone who wanted to help others. Never asked for anything in return, but to see the smiles on peoples faces for his help.  



I am sorry for such a long winded history here, but it is important to understand why we are trying to raise money.  This Ketamine Treatment Danny underwent at Appleton Ketamine Wellness Center changed his life, and gave us a few weeks of the old Danny back that we all got to enjoy before he was tragically taken away from us.  We want to raise money to help cover treatment costs for others with mental illness, who can not afford this life changing treatment.  All proceeds will be used to help fund people in need of help, with treatments at the Appleton Ketamine Wellness Center.  I hope we can raise tens of thousands of dollars in Danny's memory.  Please in lieu of gifts, flowers, or anything else we ask you make a donation here.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 11AM at Victory Church, 1500 Handschke Rd., New London.  Pastor Jim Curtis will officiate.  Visitation will be held at the church from 9AM until the time of service and we would love to see all his friends, family and people whose lives he has touched to show up.

Obituary can be seen here . 

Sincerely

Lewis Family.
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Donations 

  • Patricia Pitt- Lewis
    • $1,000 
    • 4 yrs
  • Carlene and Jim Orr
    • $20 (Offline)
    • 5 yrs
  • Leon and Mary Anne Church
    • $35 (Offline)
    • 5 yrs
  • John and Lynn Christopher
    • $25 (Offline)
    • 5 yrs
  • Jody Anklam
    • $25 (Offline)
    • 5 yrs
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Fundraising team: Dan Lewis (2)

Anthony Lewis
Organizer
Fremont, WI
Patricia Pitt- Lewis
Team member

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