Early S Man Needs Our Help

[Mark Wilson]

All,
I spoke with Warren today and got his reluntant permission to post this. My previous post on his condition didn’t tell the complete story.

Warren has Cystic Fibrosis (follow this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystic_fibrosis). He's been in the hospital many times over the past years fighting off pneumonia and has beaten the odds by reaching the age of 57 years. This stay at St Paul hospital in Dallas has convinced him to finally become a candidate for a lung transplant which can ultimately lead Warren back to full health. Dr Rosenblatt (I believe the lead transplant doc) tells him that his other systems, heart, digestive, etc are in good order and he should be a good candidate.

There are two problems, time and money. The procedure will cost $400,000 to $500,000 and Warren is without insurance. The hospital will not consider him for a transplant or even the screening process to get on the list without the ability to finance it. He has some assets that can be sold to offset 30 – 35% of the cost, but that is not enough to get St Paul’s attention. The next problem, and this is much more critical is time. Warren’s Dr tells them that he expects time will run out for our friend in 3 to 4 months.

His sister Pat recently retired from her civil service job to care for Warren and act as his full time caretaker/advocate. Over the past few weeks, she has been weaving her way through the medical/health care system to find a way to get the transplant surgery paid for. She is currently checking into the Medicare/Medicaid system, bet we fear that the enrollment and qualification process may take too long.

Warren needs your help. Doctors, attorneys, medical case workers or others that know the system or have resources, please speak up and help our friend get through this.

If you have ideas, I can be reached by PM on the board, email (I only have email access in the evening) mark@markwilson.net, or by cell at 214 - four seven eight - 7272 or at work 214 - eight five nine - 6696.


OK, we are in full fundraising mode for Warren. The official paypal fundraising account for Warren is mark@markwilson.net. Paypal website is https://www.paypal.com/. (paypal froze Kurt's account -we can use mine temporarily)

For those of you that want to send a check you can make it out to Kurt Valentine (KurtV) and he will deposit it into the Warren account. Here's the info you need:

Kurt Valentine
1100 Swifts Hwy
Jefferson City, MO 65109

[Rot 911]

Mark, I am an attorney and have dealt with Social Security and Medicare. The problem Warren is going to have with those two avenues is that a resolution with either is going to take more than the time Warren has left. Action needs to be taken now. Contacts with the hospital to bring pressure to bear would help. Perhaps they have been giving free medical service to illegals and should do the same to a U.S. citizen would make could media coverage. I am not saying this to be political, but to do a bit of coercion.

Second, set up a fund for donations. You are an honest guy and I would trust you to handle the money. Just give us an easy way to make a donation.

[andrew15]

Stunning - If you set up a fund, let us know and I'm sure we could raise some $$ to help defray part of the cost
AM

[Mark Wilson]

Kurt,
Thanks and that's exactly what I'm looking for. I need someone who knows the system and can act as Warren's bulldog and get the Docs engaged. I'm also checking into other local hospitals with transplant programs.

On the fundraising, believe me, that is whirling in my head about how to do that. I need about $300K in 30 days and have been making calls to philanthropic organizations to try and get some traction. Other than that, I need 300 guys with $1000 or 3000 with $100.

[goldsc78258]

I don't know Warren personally only thru this board ,you could set up a paypal account and people can donate in the way of money or parts, where the proceeds from the sale would go to him(paypal account). if you do this let me know and I'll donate some parts from the 83 that I'm parting out

[Hoffmanmotors]

This is sad, I would love to see a paypal account open for Warren. I would definitely send something to try and help.

[Shaun 84 Targa]

Has he considered going overseas for the operation? he could probably have the transplant done for $100,000 in India or Eastern Europe.

[Rot 911]

Mark if you don't have time for the paypal account we can use mine. To anyone that wants to contribute I promise to give full disclosure of my full name, address and phone number if that would encourage you to give. We may not get $300K, but right now we need to get enough dollars coming in to sway the hospital to proceed.

[frogger]

I'll gladly contibute to a fund for Warren.

[dshepp806]

We're only immortal for a limited time...... Just put yourselves in his shoes....

..I'm in.

Best,

[david c.]

Set up the fund with a paypal address.

Also, and this may be a bit off the wall, but why not also just ask everyone on the board to auction some spares on ebay and use the fund's paypal address?

[Mark Wilson]

Guys,
Hold on the donations for a short time. There may be some implications for his Medicare/Medicaid status. I'm calling an atty right now.

[RickM]

A drive of this size needs serious and immediate attention. Perhaps Wayne could sponsor the drive here on the site. It may encourage vendors, advertisers, media and others to contribute as well. Getting some corporate attention will get us there quicker as well.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Guys,
Hold on the donations for a short time. There may be some implications for his Medicare/Medicaid status. I'm calling an atty right now.

Mark, this is a non-issue for medicare/medicaid status. We set up a paypal account (you or me) get the donations and deal with the hospital directly with no money going to Warren or touching his income/asset status in anyway.

[Mark Wilson]

Originally Posted by Kurt V

Mark, this is a non-issue for medicare/medicaid status. We set up a paypal account (you or me) get the donations and deal with the hospital directly with no money going to Warren or touching his income/asset status in anyway.

Beautiful. That was Scott's opinion as well. Give me a call.

[BRPORSCHE]

My cousin has the same disease. She is a college student and is 20 years old. For a CF patient to reach of 57 years is an amazing miracle in itself. I will tell her about this to give her some hope.

Keep up the work Warren. You have made it this far!

Also, if an account is made for donations I am definitely in.

[JeremyD]

I'll help

[RarlyL8]

Man that's hard to read.
Warren has been around this board from the beginning and has helped countless DIY 911 nuts. I'd bet if every person who has read an Early S Man post sent $1 the cost of the procedure would be covered.

[Tyson Schmidt]

I'll send as much as I can 'til it hurts.

[scottb]

I'm in!