Wendi Davison Cancer Fight & Black Bear Inn Fund

My husband Joel and I had the pleasure of meeting Wendi and Bruce almost ten years ago when we first stayed at the Black Bear Inn for a friend’s wedding in the nearby Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Over the last decade, the Inn has become our home away from home and Wendi and Bruce have become family – our closest and dearest friends.

In the last week, Wendi’s life has changed dramatically. What started as medical appointments for pain and symptoms Wendi has been experiencing since March – seeing local providers in their community and a urological procedure at a community hospital, resulted in an urgent appointment with the head of Urology at UC Davis Medical Center. Her appointment and exam with the specialist escalated to concerns of a tumor in the bladder and tumor invasion into surrounding areas.

Wendi was scheduled for a diagnostic procedure days later and received the news on Monday, April 24th, that she has a large tumor in her bladder and invasive cancer, that is impacting multiple areas in her pelvic region. Wendi is already scheduled for major surgery on May 8th for tumor removal and the removal of other impacted areas/organs. It will be a significant surgery and a four-month recovery. Wendi and Bruce are awaiting news from the pathology reports for the staging of her cancer as well as the tumor board’s recommendation from the multi-disciplinary team for the best approach to treat Wendi.

Unfortunately, this is likely not Wendi’s last surgery and her ongoing treatment journey is still to be determined.

The number one priority right now is Wendi’s health and recovery.

The goal and aim are to honor existing bookings at the Inn, and friends and family will be helping as much as possible to run the Inn and assist Bruce.

In the midst of this, we hope to alleviate some of the stress and worry financially for Bruce and Wendi. The medical journey will come with its own expenses and at the same time, we would like to remove some of the stress of maintaining the same level of bookings and events with the Inn so that the sole focus can be on Wendi’s medical journey, treatment, and recovery. We do not want Bruce and Wendi to worry about the expense of paying their bills or hiring help to run the Inn (if needed).

So many of you, like Joel and I, have fallen in love with the Black Bear Inn over the years and with Wendi and Bruce. They hold and special place in your heart. If you feel led to give and support Wendi and Bruce during this time, it would be greatly and humbly appreciated.

I know that Bruce and Wendi are incredibly grateful and overwhelmed with the love and outpouring of support they have received thus far.