Dan & Gwen's Medical Expenses

*Update January 5*

To all of you who donated to support Gwen and Dan,

When a call for help with medical bills went out, you overwhelmed the Voelpels with your response. They could not be more thankful for your incredible kindness and generosity.

It is with the deepest sadness that we tell you that Dan passed away on January 4 at Tacoma General Hospital. As with many things in Dan’s life, Gwen was by his side

There are not adequate words to express the significance of this loss because of the magnitude of Dan’s impact on so many of us.

We raised money to pay for a care facility for Dan. Unfortunately, the insurance systems prevented that. Kaiser has denied payment for his time in the hospital from Jan. 1 through Jan. 4. Unless something changes, Gwen is facing medical costs well beyond what she can afford on her own.

We request to redirect the money you donated toward these medical bills and for other end-of-life costs for Dan. We completely understand that this is different than what was outlined in the GoFundMe request, and will return your donation with absolute understanding if that is what you would prefer. Please email Christine Gleason via GoFundMe if you choose to have your donation returned.

It was a beautiful thing to see so many people join together for Dan and Gwen – and to see such a magnificent outpouring of support at such a difficult time. Thank you for being a part of that.

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Dan and Gwen Voelpel need our help. After a year-long fight against brain cancer, Dan is now stuck in the emergency room at Tacoma General. (The day this account was created was his birthday, so he turned 62 in the hospital.)

The beautiful home where Dan and Gwen live is no longer a safe place for him. His insurance company, Kaiser, has denied the doctor's direction that he go into a skilled nursing facility, and Hospice House will not take him because he does not meet their medical requirements - despite being at the end of his life.

Please help support this family so Dan can go to a place where he can live the rest of his days in comfort, with support for his medical needs. The cost for a private care facility is $12,000 a month - a significant financial burden.

Dan has impacted so many of us in immeasurable ways. Let's do what we can to make his end-of-life as peaceful as possible.