Daniel Baylor's Medical Fund
Donation protected
My name is David Neilson, as many of you know, but I hope this narrative reaches thousands of people who don't know me. I am asking you good people to help a wonderful man support his family through the worst times possible.
Daniel "Gentleman Dan" Baylor is who is important here. This is a picture of him in happier times, when he was planning his retirement in July of this year...before he found out he had inoperable brain cancer. This is his story, and hopefully it strikes a chord in you.
When I met Daniel, we became fast friends. We shared a common background in the U.S.Army, having both flown AH-1 Cobra helicopters. Often that is as deep as a friendship with a work colleague will go...but Daniel is far from just an average work colleague. I have found Daniel to be an uncommonly good man, full of humility, with an astounding depth of character, sometimes brutal honesty, a sharp wit, but mostly just a kind and gentle man. The nickname "Gentleman Dan" is a wholly deserved one, and generally not the normal nickname found in my line of work.
I have been lucky enough to have spent thousands of hours with Dan, obviously some while flying, but mostly walking the roads and deserts around our remote work camp, discussing all manner of things. Our lives, our hopes, dreams, fears, problems, etc...Dan would go to the deep end of a conversation and leave you feeling that his input was valuable, and that he had helped make a change... and he has helped me through many a dark time. And now it's time to return his generosity and invaluable friendship.
This is not Daniel's first crippling blow from medical issues, as his daughter Angela was born prematurely in the Philippines, with numerous physical and developmental disabilities. Things in the small hospital there were so bad that he was forced to solicit people on the street with offers of buying blood in order to help his newborn. The insurance our company offers is quite good, but is limited while overseas. Daniel was forced to wipe out a large chunk of his life savings in order to keep his daughter alive, and has continued to do so in order to assure that she was able to get the best medical help available for her developmental issues.
Daniel's wife, Donna, is a Philippina woman that he met while living and working overseas, hence Angela being born in the Philippines. Daniel researched the best programs available to help his daughter, and the best overall program and option for him and his family was in the Philippines, and despite the fact that it was forcing him to drain his savings account, he chose that option. Dan is an incredibly selfless man.
While on his latest visit to see his family back in the Philippines, Dan suffered a seizure and ended up in a small hospital, not knowing who anybody was or where he was. He was then moved to a larger hospital, by boat and with a medical escort, in order to further diagnose his issues. Cat scans, MRIs, numerous specialists...all of you can imagine the horrors of not knowing what has caused the seizures, as well as the horror of being faced with the mounting medical costs. To top this nightmare off, Donna's father was in the hospital, in a coma, dying, while all this was happening.
The diagnosis given to Dan was an inoperable brain tumor, and he was told to go to the US and find the best medical help that money can buy. Daniel was forced to pay the hospital bill in full upon discharge, and he took a huge hit to his life savings once again.
Daniel just arrived back in the Phoenix area for a second opinion and more advanced consultations, which is only part of the issues he now faces. You see, because he has lived and worked overseas for many years, his wife has no immigration status. He has had to hire an immigration attorney to help, and that costs money. And he still has the ongoing treatments for young Angela, as well.
Frankly, from here on out, everything is going to cost Daniel's family money. That's why I'm writing this and that's why you're reading this. Daniel doesn't want your money, but he needs it. He would never ask anybody for help, and I'm sure reading this is going to embarrass him...but he's my friend, and I love him, so I have no problem asking for donations to help.
How can you help? First off, before you give or do anything, you should reflect on all of the good things you have in your life...from your loved ones, to your health, home, community, rights, to your future, etc. Daniel would want that, for sure.
After you have thought of all those positives in your life, and you have thought about how easily this could befall you, and how you might hope others would help you, then think about what you want to do...
How Can I Help?
You can donate money, which is unfortunately the most necessary item for massive medical issues such as this. You can donate time, to help Daniel and Donna with transportation issues, etc, if you are in the Phoenix area, or travel there often. Or, you can forward this to someone you know who might help, through your family, your social network, your colleagues at work, or any other way you can think of. The best possible way to help is to do all three of these things.
Thank you for reading this, and I again want to plead with you to look deep into your heart and do whatever you can to help Gentleman Dan Baylor in his time of need. Peace, and thank you!
Daniel "Gentleman Dan" Baylor is who is important here. This is a picture of him in happier times, when he was planning his retirement in July of this year...before he found out he had inoperable brain cancer. This is his story, and hopefully it strikes a chord in you.
When I met Daniel, we became fast friends. We shared a common background in the U.S.Army, having both flown AH-1 Cobra helicopters. Often that is as deep as a friendship with a work colleague will go...but Daniel is far from just an average work colleague. I have found Daniel to be an uncommonly good man, full of humility, with an astounding depth of character, sometimes brutal honesty, a sharp wit, but mostly just a kind and gentle man. The nickname "Gentleman Dan" is a wholly deserved one, and generally not the normal nickname found in my line of work.
I have been lucky enough to have spent thousands of hours with Dan, obviously some while flying, but mostly walking the roads and deserts around our remote work camp, discussing all manner of things. Our lives, our hopes, dreams, fears, problems, etc...Dan would go to the deep end of a conversation and leave you feeling that his input was valuable, and that he had helped make a change... and he has helped me through many a dark time. And now it's time to return his generosity and invaluable friendship.
This is not Daniel's first crippling blow from medical issues, as his daughter Angela was born prematurely in the Philippines, with numerous physical and developmental disabilities. Things in the small hospital there were so bad that he was forced to solicit people on the street with offers of buying blood in order to help his newborn. The insurance our company offers is quite good, but is limited while overseas. Daniel was forced to wipe out a large chunk of his life savings in order to keep his daughter alive, and has continued to do so in order to assure that she was able to get the best medical help available for her developmental issues.
Daniel's wife, Donna, is a Philippina woman that he met while living and working overseas, hence Angela being born in the Philippines. Daniel researched the best programs available to help his daughter, and the best overall program and option for him and his family was in the Philippines, and despite the fact that it was forcing him to drain his savings account, he chose that option. Dan is an incredibly selfless man.
While on his latest visit to see his family back in the Philippines, Dan suffered a seizure and ended up in a small hospital, not knowing who anybody was or where he was. He was then moved to a larger hospital, by boat and with a medical escort, in order to further diagnose his issues. Cat scans, MRIs, numerous specialists...all of you can imagine the horrors of not knowing what has caused the seizures, as well as the horror of being faced with the mounting medical costs. To top this nightmare off, Donna's father was in the hospital, in a coma, dying, while all this was happening.
The diagnosis given to Dan was an inoperable brain tumor, and he was told to go to the US and find the best medical help that money can buy. Daniel was forced to pay the hospital bill in full upon discharge, and he took a huge hit to his life savings once again.
Daniel just arrived back in the Phoenix area for a second opinion and more advanced consultations, which is only part of the issues he now faces. You see, because he has lived and worked overseas for many years, his wife has no immigration status. He has had to hire an immigration attorney to help, and that costs money. And he still has the ongoing treatments for young Angela, as well.
Frankly, from here on out, everything is going to cost Daniel's family money. That's why I'm writing this and that's why you're reading this. Daniel doesn't want your money, but he needs it. He would never ask anybody for help, and I'm sure reading this is going to embarrass him...but he's my friend, and I love him, so I have no problem asking for donations to help.
How can you help? First off, before you give or do anything, you should reflect on all of the good things you have in your life...from your loved ones, to your health, home, community, rights, to your future, etc. Daniel would want that, for sure.
After you have thought of all those positives in your life, and you have thought about how easily this could befall you, and how you might hope others would help you, then think about what you want to do...
How Can I Help?
You can donate money, which is unfortunately the most necessary item for massive medical issues such as this. You can donate time, to help Daniel and Donna with transportation issues, etc, if you are in the Phoenix area, or travel there often. Or, you can forward this to someone you know who might help, through your family, your social network, your colleagues at work, or any other way you can think of. The best possible way to help is to do all three of these things.
Thank you for reading this, and I again want to plead with you to look deep into your heart and do whatever you can to help Gentleman Dan Baylor in his time of need. Peace, and thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
David Neilson
Organizer
Brentwood, CA
Daniel Baylor
Beneficiary