Help Doug Recover from Cancer

Hi folks, thanks for reading! We'd like to humbly ask for some support with growing medical bills for my dad, Doug Wendt.

In the early hours of a late August morning, Doug hopped in the family car to take himself to the ER. He had chest pains, and we were worried there was something wrong with his heart. A week in the hospital, a zillion tests, two surgeries, another multi-day hospitalization, and an additional surgery later, and it appears he's beaten the odds against a rare, aggressive bladder cancer. (Turns out his heart is ok, minus a little a-fib!)

There's still a lot of healing and recovering to do (and a few more procedures to support that recovery), which means the strain of current and impending medical bills is heavy. There is a rapidly widening gulf between what insurance covers and the reality of recovering from a major illness in America.

If you're reading this, you already know Doug. Maybe from his countless radio shows in the Bay Area and Montana. Or his tireless advocacy. Perhaps you took one of his classes. He's a world music curator, a DJ/VJ, musician, filmmaker, occasional professor and mentor, and a wordsmith. His impact has been immeasurable, but quiet -- he tends to avoid attention, instead shining a light on countless musicians, artists, and movements over the years.

It was a challenge convincing him to let me post this for him. But an artist's life has meant an artist's income -- so between medical bills, the pandemic, and recovery time impacting his ability to take on projects, any help would be an enormous relief to Doug and his wife Deeling (my wonderful mom).

Much love to you and yours,

Catherine-Rose Wendt

Ross Wendt

Deeling Gregory