Andy Stephenson still hospitalized.

[benburch]

I just posted an update to http://www.AndyThanksYou.com/

I will be posting daily updates there until he is out of the hospital, assuming I have anything new to say.

Those of you who want to send cards, I have posted his POB address, and Termite will make sure he gets anything sent there.

[Bluebear]

1. "How do we know that it's really a puppy?"

:rofl:

VERY elaborate hoax, my friend, carting all that hospital equipment in and hiring that actress to play nurse. ;)

Thanks so much for this site, what a great place to go for updates on our colleague!

[FreedomAngel82]

2. LOL

Silly. I'm glad everything is okay though.

[benburch]

3. If you pray.

Now would be a good time.

And you are very welcome.

[Bluerthanblue]

116. i do, i have been and

i will continue to-

Please, make sure they change his IV site periodically- (that is if they are not) that was the cause of infection and high fever for my Dad, who suffered much of what Andy is going through..... and my heart goes out to Andy- it's hell, but he's a fighter, that is obvious- and a really positive and important key to beating this ....

i'm grateful to have had the chance to help- i'm hoping to rejoice in good news along with so many caring others-

Love to Andy and ALL who are 'being there' for him in this struggle.

[wtmusic]

4. Ben have they figured out where the fever is coming from?

:scared:

[EFerrari]

8. Well, they've run some tests and we'll know more soon.

But Andy is feeling pretty badly. So thoughts, wishes, prayers, whatever you do, appreciated.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

17. I'd be willing to bet that it's coming from one or more bacteria that....

...that gets into the body during and after surgery. No matter how sterile the operating rooms are, some bacteria still exists.

My Dad had the same procedure and was VERY ill for about three weeks after that. His procedure was done in 1996, and he's still among the living. He still has flare-ups of infection just about every year...because you never can get completely rid of the bacteria once it's in your body

[Mairead]

18. Or it could be from one of those O/R continuity mishaps, such as a sponge

left inside. They're notorious for producing fevers of no obvious cause that won't go away, which is what it sounds like Andy has.

"Or on rare occasions - once in every 15,000 operations in the United States, according to Gawande - the patient actually goes home without anyone realizing there's a foreign object still inside him. The patient may suffer health problems for years, desperately worrying until an alert physician discovers the object. (In one case a couple of years ago, a woman set off an airport metal detector, only to find that a retractor had been left in her abdomen months before. Last month, a Boston doctor was disciplined for leaving a sponge in a patient in 2002."

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2004/12/05/left_behind/

[Spinzonner]

19. Having a young animal around after such surgery

is also not such a good idea, regardless of its psychological value.

[benburch]

23. Actually, not likely to have caused this problem.

And if Ballot gave him a little joy, that is all I could ask for.

[ISUGRADIA]

5. As the freepers say "the US has the best healthcare system in the world"

Yes, unless, of course, you don't pay up front then your urgent cancer surgery gets delayed for 2 weeks.

Burns my friggin' hide!

[Tsiyu]

6. Sending positive mojo Andy's way

He simply has to get well, because we NEED him more than ever.

We need to get this voting fraud sorted out before it's time to ratify the anti-Constitutional flag amendment.

Y'hear that Andy? Get better soon, Friend.

[enigmatic]

7. We've got your back, Andy

I'm sending all the good vibes I can muster to Seattle right now..

[Suich]

9. Many thanks for the update, Ben!

[The Doctor.]

10. Everything about this says that he needs help.

So I'll be happy to tell Andy he needs to get his Iconic Manipulation working.

The Whipple Procedure is relatively simple... it's the recovery that sucks.

If Andy wants to know more about Iconic Manipulation, subliminal re-interpretation, self-hypnosis, or 'visualization techniques'... give me a line to him.

It's something most people don't get.

I'd be happy to help.

[EFerrari]

11. That's really kind of you, Dr. E.

I'll check with him & Termite on this in the a.m.

:)

[The Doctor.]

14. Deal.

Don't say it's kind untill it yields significant results though.

[OzarkDem]

123. Visualization therapy does help

Especially when you're dealing with a fever that won't go away.

[Richard Steele]

12. Best wishes for Andy; he's one of the GOOD ones! Get well, dammit!

[Janice325]

13. Thanks, Ben

I didn't know he was back in the hospital. I'm sending positive vibes his way.

[ninkasi]

15. Thank you, benburch...

I have been shocked at the events leading up to Andy's surgery. Apparently some people have nothing better to do than to smear good people who are already stressed out, gravely ill, and fighting for their lives.

I am sending Andy many positive thoughts tonight; I know that many, many others will be doing the same thing. I could not have a job where I told a man "Sorry, if you can't come up with the $50,000, I guess you'll have to die. Sorry about that."

Andy has been tirelessly fighting for a government which will take care of the people who need it, and elevate medicine from a money-grubbing operation to one which is able to heal with compassion. The government comes in, via OUR tax dollars, by making sure that every American receives quality medical care.

We can use our tax money to destroy, as the neocons do, or help, and heal, as Andy and the rest of us want. Good luck to this warrior; may he heal, become strong, and carry the fight for another day.

[anitar1]

16. maybe it would help to send a little bit

to help out. I pray for you, Andy. let's et behind him again !

[unhappycamper]

20. How are we doin on the $$$ front?

[benburch]

21. Andy is pretty much broke. nt

[EFerrari]

31. I have not asked Skinner for permission to do any fund raising,

and in fact have been waiting for the doctor's plan to see what's up.

Andy is covered by Medicaid in WA. There are some things he needs that aren't covered. Hopefully today I can get all my factoids in the same linear sequence.

Thanks for asking!

Beth

[amazona]

37. please no more fund-raising here

Too many bad feelings as it is. An attorney should have set up a bank account to receive donations long ago. At this time we still don't have any accountability as to where the money is going.

I was emailed these posts that Andy supposedly made in October 2002.

With my income in the high four figures, I don't appreciate that I was asked for money (and sent money) for an heir to $70,000, pretty much an undreamed-of sum for me.

In fairness to everyone who feels that they were misled about the need, please no more individual fund-raising on DU. I don't doubt that Andy is ill, and I hope he gets well soon, but I don't think it is right that the money has not been accounted for. People who pretend to be his friends, yet do not insist that he get proper legal assistance in handling his fund-raising and the funds, are not being a friend to him in the long run. He cannot be an effective spokesperson for anything if he is embroiled in an investigation or a trial for possible mis-use or diversion of some of the funds.

Forgive me for speaking up, but we were told that this issue was NOT to be discussed on DU...and for exactly this reason. Every time the issue is raised, people start dropping hints to raise more $$$ and the lack of proper legal paperwork again arises.


I don't know how to do a screenshot but the text of the posts were as followed, both by Andy. Here's October 16, 2002:

"But I don't comment too often as I am a dummy when it comes to high finance. Hell I even have trouble balancing the old checkbook. Seriously though...I need all the help I can get. I have an inheritance coming in soon...about 70k and I want to secure it instead of corporate "wrong doers" taking it away. What should I do? I'm so afraid...Why did they have to go and leave me any money in the first place. No I will fret over what I am gonna do. Put it in the bank? Stocks? Gold? the matress??? I'm so confused."

The other was the day before, October 15, 2002:

"I have been buying gold on the dips...I am real worried about the JP MOrgan derivatives problem and am using gold as a hedge. Do you see gold going higher still...Or are we in a bear market? I am so bugged over this. Thank God I got out of the market at the top. Now I am firmly in the gold camp. SO what do I do?
God has advisors you know!"

[EFerrari]

42. Amazona, I think you'd missed a couple of months worth of

updates.

And will review briefly for your information.

1. We had NO time to hire an attorney or set up a special account last April.

Had you been helping, maybe you could have magically changed time and space so we could get that done.

2. Since then, an apparatus has been set up.

3. Not only do we have accountability, we have TRANSCRIPTS of the last fundraiser, and it is now registered in WA state.

If you have any further concerns, and it's likely you will, you need to take them to the Admins.

And the only part of this that is not to be discussed on DU is the false claim of fraud, which has been laid to rest except by a handful of freepers how have been stalking Andy from sickbed to sickbed.

[Malva Zebrina]

50. Didn't Andy know the pitfalls?

I agree with the poster Amazona. After what has happened here, many have found this fundraiser to be disturbing due to the chaos and questioning it has raised.

Andy was the keeper of the books for Bev Harris. Andy ran for office in his state, and as such, raised funds and had to account for those funds. Surely Andy himself was informed and completely aware of what needed to be done as far a raising funds goes. I find it difficult ot believe that people did not have one inkling as to how to be upfront about the fundraiser, and blithly believe that no one would think the manner in which it was done was questionable.

And, there is still no accounting at all as to how much this fundraiser raised for this cause. Further, someone said on one of the threads at one time that anything that is left over will be used for the cause, or something similar to that. People who gave money to Andy to help him get the needed medical care, may not necessarily want to give to the "cause", you know. People deserve a full accounting, and it is funnyj, but I remember saying the same thing about Bev Harris and her fundraiser on one of those threads after she was tombstoned.

Please, can you tell me how much money was raised? Can Andy? It would do a lot toward helping any further fundraisers -- not only here, but everywhere that people are being asked to donate money. People need to be aware of the pitfalls.

[EFerrari]

51. We raised $51,134.63.

And please see my reply to "Amazona", as well as the fundraising threads -- especially before you misquote me or anyone else again.

If you have further questions, you can direct them to the Admins or to the WA secretary of State.

Our fundraiser was as orderly as possible under the circumstances and has the virtue of being recorded as it happened in two threads -- more than most fundraisers can say.

The only chaos created here was by known trolls. It was a shame that Andy became their target, and that they were allowed to so disrupt DU.

[Malva Zebrina]

60. Ok, will do--I am patient

and I don't know from trolls. I know I am not one and I know those others who question are not trolls either.

Under what circumstances? I have already said that Andy was well aware of what the protocals are for fundraising having had the experience of working with Bev Harris and being her keeper of the record. He also was well aware of the protocols having run for office and raised funds for his run and having to account for those funds raised.

That he did not relay that information to you or anyone, is somewhat suspicious to me and others. Andy knew about fund raising through experience, so I do not buy it that it was all done in innocence.

Harm has been done and it has not been done by trolls. Trolls as the enemy who are trying to do you harm, or trying to murder Andy by questioning is a convenient excuse and one which I do not buy.

It would be far more honorable and od more for Andy or any fundraisers in the future, if you would fess up and confess that the way you and others, approached this, was not in the best of professionalism.

Now, I know that contributers to this were asked to e-mail you and that is the ONLY thing by which you can base your accounting upon.

That is not good enough, Beth.

That is not good enough when an amount over fifty thousand dollars is in question.

I donated, and I did NOT e-mail you because I do not give out my e-mail address to anyone I do not know. I learned that after donating to several causes here where I got spam unbelievable afterwards.

And how many e-mails have you collected so far? What do you do with all those e-mails? Can you sell them like the Schiavo family sold their e-mail cache?

[Stephanie]

61. gee, I was going to PM you but your profile is disabled

I was going to send you the website devoted to attacking Andy, so you could see what a troll looks like. But maybe you've already seen it. If not you could start by searching "keyword" andy_stephenson at www.freerepublic.com - they have seriously, seriously hurt Andy and it's not a matter of a few questions about protocol and bank accounts.

Seeing as to how the fundraisers are not, in fact, professionals, why are you insisting they apologize for their lack of professionalism? Andy was not involved. Andy was SICK.

What accounting exactly would you like to see? The hospital bill, and the cancelled checks, are at www.andythanksyou.com - what else do you need to see? Be specific.

And now you have come up with a whole new accusation! How many emails were collected? Good lord. It's tiresome.

[Malva Zebrina]

62. You can PM me--many have--there is nothing prohibiting that

feel free to do so. I would ask that you not use profanity though.

My profile is disabled because my children advised me to do so. They feared for my safety and think I am naive.

I know what the hospital bill was. I am asking how much was collected. It seems to me the only person who would have this information would be Andy.

on edit

It is not unreasonable to ask , since e-mails are being presented as the watermark of how much was collected. It is not unreasonable to ask, either, what will be done with those e-mails. If you think that is unreasonable, well then, sorry.

Threads dealing with this fundraiser here were erased forcing many left up in the air with questions still not resolved, to go to the "other" sites in order to get any information at all. Or we received information via e-mail from others who were aware of information that was not allowed to be posted here. That is not my fault. I had nothing to do with those decisions.

[merh]

78. Here ya go

Check out this article posted in LBN
http://tinyurl.com/8wv76

Some of us are proud progressives! The christian thing to do is to help folks in need.

The threads were never erased, as a matter of fact, that is the wonderful thing about the fund raiser - we have A COMPLETE transcript of the days activities.

Go back and read all the threads -- there is a history and a discussion of his illness & needs.

[noiretextatique]

63. what "harm" has been done?

an individual who solicits gifts doesn't have the same obligation to givers as does a legal charity.

if you give a man on the street $1 and so do 49,000 other people, what exactly do you "deserve?" nothing...you "deserve" absolutely nothing, nada, zip. that's what you "deserve" when you donate, aka, give a gift, to any individual, particularly one who you know is ill and still in the hospital.
there is nothing suspicious about giving a gift...except the repeated insiuations that you are owed something in return for that gift.
i find that more than suspicious...it's crass, rude, and insensitive, considering a man is fighting for his life.

it's great that those who collected the money are working to provide information about how it was spent, but they really are under no obligation to do so, because: you gave a gift.

[Malva Zebrina]

64. the harm that has been done is the inability of honest persons to ask

questions and the villification of those who asked reasonable questions by a gang of cursing, accusatory persons in charge of the fundraiser. You do not know or not aware of the harm that has been done for future fundraisers.

When people ask questions, and are accused of murder, well I have to tell you that the fringe element has done a whole lot of harm to those sincere persons who demand a little professionalism when it comes to collecting money from persons.

And, those who are interested in justice and keeping order to fundraising activity, will pursue that justice for the long run.

You have put a blight on any fundraising activity for the future with this Keystone Kops approach.

It would not be so bad, if people would apologize for their exuberant hysteria and vow to not do this in the future,to have more respect for the process and the people who contributed, but instead we have more gang bangs, more profanity, more accusations of murder, more accusations of trolls and on and on.

[greatauntoftriplets]

65. Where did noiretblu use profanity?

I don't see shit in her post.

[noiretextatique]

68. must be a mindreader...

see my next fucking post :rofl:

[greatauntoftriplets]

69. Great fucking post....

:D

:hi:

[noiretextatique]

70. thanks...and i fucking mean it

:hi: i will pay to ease this person's mind.

[greatauntoftriplets]

71. You're fucking welcome...

It pisses me off that Andy feels like crap.

[noiretextatique]

72. i know

i am so sorry that this shit is happening here, considering what he's facing in his life. i can only imgagine how difficult this must be for his DU friends.
sure makes you wonder...

[Malva Zebrina]

73. Oh come on

those who are following, know what has been posted on other sites, such as the malloy site. It was a complete and disgusting disgrace and anyone following would be ashamed to be connected to that filth that was posted on that board by Andy defenders.

Get real. People are following on other sites because that is what is out there. When these people accuse other people of murder, because they question, and have good reason to question because never have those questions been answered, then that is not acceptable to me, nor do people have to accept it as repressentative of those defending this fundraiser.

I strenously object to accusations of murder against those who have valid questions.

[greatauntoftriplets]

75. Please show me a link of where I have accused anyone of murder.

And I don't have enough time to follow a gazillion sites.

[Malva Zebrina]

80. Too bad

I have, And it is, to say the least, disgusting the way people have accused those who question this fundraiser of the murder of Andy Stephenson on other boards.

Excuse me, I am not a murderer.

[noiretextatique]

76. but no profanity, right?

and certainly didn't accuse you of murder. what i said was: you gave a gift, and you are owed nothing in return giving that gift.

[Malva Zebrina]

81. I don't expecgt anything in return, but I am interested in justice

and truth. If this continues on as it has been conducted, there is nothing to be gained by it for the future of fundraising.

If things are done in a wild hysterical manner, with facts colliding with each other, one after the other, then someone needs to analyze why and how this was done and whether or not it added anything to the future of fundraisers for persons in need.

Someone also NEEDS to be accountable and there is NO ONE who is willing to take on the responsibility.

[noiretextatique]

83. you need to grasp the difference between giving a gift

to an individual, and giving a gift to a formal charity. in this case, you gave a gift to an individual, and as such, the individual is not beholden to you. if this was a formal charity, you could demand financial records. "fundraising" as you are using the term, doesn't really apply in this case, as has been explained ad nauseum.
this was an emergency situation, so a drive was organized by his friends, who are probably not professional fundraisers. so...what should not even have been and issue has now been blown way out of proportion, in part because i don't think some are focusing on the real issue, which is: a man is seriously ill and is still fighting for his life.
how does harping about fundraising help andy get better?

[Malva Zebrina]

84. I need to do what I think I need to do and not what someone else tells

me I need to do.

A public fundraiser, unfortunately, when conducted on a site that has 70,000 or more registrants, needs to have accountability no matter how emotional the plea.

You cannot conduct a fundraiser that raises questions, and expect that it will all be just fine, because the assumption is made that people do not care where their money has gone. When there are questions raised, and when they are legitimate questions, then there NEEDS to be some professional accountability in order to legitimize the action.'

Sorry, but that is the way it is and that is way Andy knew it was and that is the way Bev Harris knows it is.

There is a separation between the emotional and the practical and I know that those who are attached cannot make that separation, but there does come a time when that practicality is necessary in order to keep other fundraisers the ability to help others. It is also a respect given towards those who do contribute out of the kindness of their hearts. The internet is full of scams that prey upon vulnerable people and I don't think this fundraiser was conducted in a way that would make it professional and that would give credence to other fundraisers in the future, Therefore I post my opinions on the sloppy way this was conducted

We still do NOT know how much money was collected. Do you have the concrete figures? No one does, except for Andy and so, we do NOT know. And I think we deserve to know.

We deserve, as well as those who do not care, deserve to know in order to lend legitimacy to any future fundraisers.

[noiretextatique]

127. i think you

should let me refund your donation, your gift. then, all your concerns about fundraising wouldn't matter, since you are the only one harping about it in this thread.
again, i offer to return your gift, so you would have no reason to feel that you are entitled to something, as you would if you purchased something. giving is different than buying, btw.

[bettyellen]

92. the compete disgusting disgrace i saw was a bunch of people

accusing Andy and others of completely faking his bout with cancer.
It's a pretty disturbing allegation that has been totally disproven.

I didn't see anyone here ever accuse you of trying to murder someone.
Where are those posts?

[noiretextatique]

67. boo fucking hoo...you made accusations and insinuations

that were snide and nasty. how much did you donate? i will personally return it to you to ease your troubled mind.

[Malva Zebrina]

77. What I donated , no doubt, would be sneered at

as not much worth it. In fact you are sneering at my donation now. Why? I donated. I am as good and respectful as you as far as that is concerned. Like a lot people, here respected as long time posters, I had and still have reservations as to how this fundraiser was conducted.

[noiretextatique]

82. not sneering, a sincere offer to ease your concerns

i am sure whatever you gave was much appreciated...and it makes me happy that it won't break me.

tell me...why is how the fundraising was done so important to you? i fail to grasp the significance of that...considering:

1) andy was and is seriously ill
2) he did have the surgery
3) he is still in the hospital

frankly...i don't get the "concern" about the fundraising, given all the above. it seems like you'd be more concerned about andy's health, than worrying about the bookkeeping for donations. i've been here since the beginning, and i have donated to other informal fundraisers here, mostly to help people keep a roof over their heads. i don't think anyone even asked how much money was raised, or cared where it went.

if you think of this as simply giving to an invididual, which is what you did, then perhaps that should ease you mind...it was just a gift. do you ever require any proof of how the gift was used for other gifts you give?
well...i'm off work. pm me if i can help ease you concerns by refunding your donation. peace.

[Malva Zebrina]

86. It is important because some persons can see the broader brush

and the effects that go beyond this one specific instance.

and I will think twice of ever doing this again. I would prefer to send money to some foundation rather than to an individual pay pal account that has and that has refused to give an account of exactly how much money was collected for this cause.

And I am not the only one that has been turned off by this manipulation that has refused any accountability at all as far as revealing how much money has been collected.

[bettyellen]

97. People donated knowing that 50K aren't the end of his expenses.....

he had the trip to JH, a hotel room while there for a couple of days, living expenses and a period of unemployment post surgery. This was all laid out quite clearly from what I saw.

But since you state that you have regerets why don't you get your money back?
An honest and quite fair offer of restitution was made to anyone who felt that in hindsight they should have asked more questions. People took up this offer and were satisfied enough to accept an honest resolution.

Why don't you want to resolve the issue?
If you felt the fundraiser was not handled professionally, please explain why you won't let your misgivings now be resolved in a professional manner? It makes no sense at all.

[noiretextatique]

126. what "manipulation?"

you have already been told how much money was given, and there is no dispute about WHY the money was requested. that you are trying to make yourself out to be a victim is beyond pathetic.

[merh]

79. The only ones accused of trying to harm

Andy, that I am aware of, post in those ugly forums.

[EFerrari]

107. If it's good enough for the State of WA, and the IRS,

it will just have to be good enough for you.

And now, I will return to my regularly scheduled programing.

:hi:

[bettyellen]

103. i hope your not counting the $50 my friend Tim said he sent....

although he swears he's sending it next week, it's been more than a month, so....
:shrug:

[Stephanie]

52. Andy is very, very sick. Andy was sick at the time of the fundraiser too.

There is no fundraiser happening right now so perhaps you could tone down the hostility. Andy did not organize the first fundraiser and has nothing to answer for. He was TOO SICK. The friends who did run the fundraiser did so on an emergency basis and are sorting the paperwork now. Some documents and cancelled checks are posted at www.andythanksyou.com

I have learned a lot in the past few months. Mostly I've learned that there truly are people in this world vindictive enought to carry out their ruthless vendettas to the point of murder, for sport. I'm very sorry to have learned it. I'm not talking about DUers, obviously, but you have no idea how out of control things have gotten with the people who've been harrassing Andy. So we are all a little sensitive at the moment, as I'm sure you can understand.

[greatauntoftriplets]

53. Well said, Stephanie.

n/t

[Malva Zebrina]

66. the fundraising began in February

did it not?

[merh]

85. Not the fundraising for his surgery in May.

That is where the evil ones miss the boat.

Others offered gifts to Andy when he was sick and out of work.
That the gifts were given after friends posted of his needs on DU doesn't alter the fact that they were "gifts". Check your IRS code, you may see what I am talking about. There is a fellow mentioned in this article that might be able to help you.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0527/050706_news_andy.php

The "major fundraiser" was at the end of April through May, because Andy needed $50k for surgery at JH. That was the "fund raiser" and that has been registered with the SOS.

Now, if I hear a mention of socialized medicine and why he had to have surgery at JH, I will know that someone has been reading too many nasty posts made by some evil folks! :crazy:

[Malva Zebrina]

87. Andy visited his gastroenterologist somewhere around Feb 17

and most likely was referred there by the person that treated his jaundice when he went to an ER--He had some procedures done on the eighteenth of Feb-- A stent was placed inot the gall bladder duct at that time and something else that in the report posted was blanked out. He was an inpatient for those two procedures, as well as being billed for pathology and cytology diagnostics. Then, a few days later, he posted that the doctor told him he had a tumor that was consistant with a malignancy--or could not be-- according to his post and he ruled out three other possibles---ie gall bladder disease and the disease his sister died of.

That happened in the last week of February. In the first week of March, he said that he would go for surgery, followed by chemo.

Somewhere between that first week in March, someone advised him that Johns Hopkins would be the better choice and apparently he opted for that rather than for the immediate treatment.

His tumor grew from 1cm to 2.3 cm-roughly double the size-the size of a marble, to the size of a golfball when he finally had it removed at JH.

Fundraising began before the intervention of Flyarm and Beth and oters. Who was it that convinced him that JH was better than the surgery, and chemo/radiation he would have in his home state? The person who got him into the vaccine study, which he was not eligible for in the first place? The person who lied about his insurance so he could get Dr. Yeo to do a whipple in JH?

Certainly it was NOT any person who began questioning the many discrepancies put forth by honest people who contributed to this 'emergency" operation at JH.

Surely, someone made or influenced those decisions and not those who were accused of murder because they questioned.

[Stephanie]

88. never mind

[merh]

89. My you have been following those threads in those other places.

I repeat, the main fund raising done on DU was done when it was discovered that he needed $50K for surgery at Johns Hopkins because he had a tumor on his pancreas.

There was a very limited window and things were done informally.

The other gifts given to Andy before that main fund raiser are between Andy and the giver and the IRS.

[Malva Zebrina]

93. Hi Merh

but your post does not address what I posted. Someone convinced him that he needed to go to JH and that would be the only place that could treat him, as the odds were greater there than anywhere else.

So from somewhere in the beginning of March, when he was ready to get immediate treatment, chemo and radiation for his condition when it was still very treatable, he was either persuaded or decided to forgo that treatment because he could get into a vaccine study or could get the top doctor in JH. Ergo, the tumor or the malignancy,more than doubled in size.

I am not putting any blame on anyone, but I am trying to dispel the notion that those who question, are not trying to murder Andy Stephenson.

[merh]

96. If you want to understand all of Andy's discussions with his

doctors then you are asking for information I cannot provide you.

Sorry, how he was diagnosed and what course of treatment was offered is between Andy and his doctor. I became involved when I learned that Andy needed money to get the surgery at Johns Hopkins to remove a tumor from his pancreas. Yes, a cancerous tumor.

The constant assertions that people did not answer the questions is wrong. Those answers were always available, if you read the threads. What was known was that Andy needed surgery to remove a tumor from his pancreas. That is why the money was raised.

You never tried to pmail me asking any questions during the fund raising, if you had, I would have tried to find those answers. When you and I have had discussions, you accuse me of name calling when I have not done that to you.

And yes, imho, the allegations that this was a fake, that Andy did not need the surgery or did not have the surgery, did interfere with the timing of his surgery, added stress and thus interfered with his health and even the assistance he needs to survive and be treated. That to me is not only unchristian and heartless, it is criminal.

The folks that continue to allege fraud and scam are just adding stress to the situation and stress can hinder the healing of a man suffering from cancer. Maybe you think getting emails telling you that you are a liar and a fraud, that you don't have cancer and that you are a scam artist is good for a cancer patient. I personally do not.

[Malva Zebrina]

99. I am not much in the habit of PM ing people.

Really. In fact, I have never PM'd anyone at all except to answer those who PM'd me. Not important to me.

I am stating facts. I am not accusing fraud, but questioning the fundraising tactics and the resultant villification of those who questioned it and the way the fundraiser was conducted.

We still do not know how much money was collected. See?

Surely you must know there were many many conflicting statements from the core fundraisers. It is out there for all to see and read.

Further, I don't like the villification and the accusations of a gang jumping upon those who are not as inclined to blindly accept things that are not factually presented. There are still outstanding questions.

We still do not know, nor have been given an accounting, a real accounting and not word of mouth, how much money was collected.


That may not be important to you, but it is important for the maintenance of professionalism, legality and maturity of fundraising as well as important for the future fundraising for other needy people.

I think, Merh, that fundraising on the whole has been hurt by this

It was sloppy,hysterical in it's pronouncements, confused and wide open to question and that should not have been.

[merh]

101. And you know what Malva

I think it was miraculous, something we ALL should be proud of.

Heck, we raised money to try to save a man's life. The accounting was found in the threads, the total has been provided to you in post #51, the papers filed with the SOS.

We raised money to help a man. Could it have been done better, sure it could have. I have never met a perfect human being and this was a fund raiser conducted by human beings. Actually, I have never known of a perfect fund raiser.

The only hysterical aspect of the fund raising are those that continue to say it was done badly because they don't agree with it being done at all or because they were not asked to be involved.

Go read the thread with the newspaper article I gave you. You will see how DUers are proud to have given to a sick man, to try to help save his life. Go read the threads and you will see how DUers are proud to have been a part of something so incredible, so christian, so loving and so right.

I gave money to a man that had to have it for his surgery Malva. I did what Christ in the New Testament said I should do. I tried to help the sick.

Why do you continue to try to tarnish it?

[WillyT]

114. Great... Marvelous... Wonderful Post Merh !!!

What you said... what you said.

Most proud to be associated with you, and all those whose purpose was to help a fellow human being, and friend.

:yourock:

[merh]

115. Why thanks so much WillyT!

:blush: I too am proud to be associated with you and all on DU that just wanted to help a sick friend. :hug:

I guess these other folks cannot figure it out because they don't know how to love and they are just jealous of the love we gave. :shrug:

:cry: So sad for them.

Thanks again! You made my night! :hi:

[Name removed]

124. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

128. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bettyellen]

102. He was not ready for immediate surgery at all, stop making inncorrect

statements and spreading disinformation if you claim to care about the truth.
He had diabetes develop from the pancreaitis and could not get surgery until he was treated for that first. Somewhere in there he had a biopsy that didn't catch a good enough sample. His surgery date was iffy because of the diabetes.. A lot of things happened. Tests went on, exact diagnosis of the tumour itself was not 100% possible until cutting him open, it never is. Any of this was searchable info if people cared to clarify things, but many here sought to sow confusion and doubt instead.
All this timeline stuff is so oversimplistic-- the very assumption that if a prognosis doesn't bear out or circumstances or surgery dates change, there must be something nefarious going on, is deliberate and most willfull ignorance. The fact that the bile duct goes through the damned pancreas was deliberately ignored too. Anyone here could have googled it, but why didn't they??
Sorry to see you taken in by fallacy that he knew he had cancer and lollygagged on treatment soo much, or that any fundraising was done prior to April.
Wrong and wrong.
You think you were conned by your little and completely refundable donaton? Think again, the con lies elsewhere, and you are falling for it.

[goodboy]

106. noone said it was the "ONLY" place he could be treated...that's

a scummy.com distortion. It was said JH was the BEST place to be treated with the highest survival rates.


What the scummy.com/mm/FR people are doing goes WAAAAAAAAY beyond just "questioning" as you put it. And it IS hurting Andy emotionally, which in turn hurts him physically. the members of Scamdy.com, FR, CU, and MustyMammeries will not rest until Andy is dead.

[bettyellen]

110. wrong again, he bacame diabetic and could not undergo surgery until that

was under control. that's why the original surgery did not happen immediately. in the mean time people suggested other options.
and the bile duct is part of the pancreatic system. and has the same diagnosis. anyone who cared about the truth could have googled that up in an instant.

[goodboy]

109. really. not merely "following" though. (nt)

[merh]

91. And every time you questioned, folks suggested that you read

the 1600 plus thread and the 400 plus thread that made up the "main fund raising" efforts for his surgery.

You have alluded that answers were not given and they were. The threads actually tracked the monies as raised, at best they could be, given the circumstances and the time constraints.

Andy had a tumor on his pancreas, he needed surgery, Johns Hopkins is world reknowned for the Whipple, he was operated on, the tumor removed, the money raised paid for the surgery and NOW he is in the hospital again.

The answers were always available.

[Malva Zebrina]

94. so, how much was raised?

Do you know? and if you do, how do you know, Merh?

[merh]

98. Gee Malva

I think Beth posted that here. Maybe you want to read the thread.

I believe in people Malva. I trust people. Maybe that is foolish on my part, but I don't think of folks that post here as criminals. That generally falls in the category of thinking like the evil freepers who want to believe the worst of folks that post at DU. I still have faith in people.

The running totals were given all during the fund raising before the surgery. It was done to keep DUers informed and to help ascertain what was needed to reach the goal. There were even thermometers created like they have at other fund raisers, the threads were incredible. You should take the time to read them and read the kind posts, the heart warming posts of your fellow DUers. It might give you a better perspective on your fellow man.

The fund raising for the surgery has been registered with the WA SOS. I guess you can get the information there.

[merh]

100. Gee Malva

You don't even bother to read the reponse to your post #50 - see post #51. Or is that one of those, questions asked but never answered?

If you read post #51 you will see the amount raised. Don't you see, answers are given to you and you don't like them, so you just keep asking the questions. Answers were provided, have been provided and I guess, will continue to be provided.

Andy is a sick man, if you are enjoying this, well, I have to wonder why. Personally, this is rather sad to me. I don't understand why certain folks show up in every thread about Andy making allegations that answers were not given, when they were, and that those that questioned things were banned, when they weren't because they always show back up. :shrug: It's just a mystery to me and it is so very sad. :cry:

[goodboy]

105. self delete.

[Dee625]

118. How about you PM me the amount you donated

If I have enough to cover it, I'll refund it to you.
Then you can move on to some other interest and let those who gave without any expectations (except to help a friend) go on about their business.

Deal?

[goodboy]

108. AA? Is that you?

[benburch]

117. Might be AA...

Certainly has been READING AA.

But somehow, I doubt he'll be back.

Now that friend Fred Grady has been outed, he might not feel so secure...

[bettyellen]

113. he developed diabetes and could not be operated on.

and your obsession with timelines is giving you away. LOL.

[goodboy]

104. gotta stop getting your "facts" from scumdy.com and misty mammery.

or FR, or "see you"

[bettyellen]

111. wrong again, Malva, it was April. Next fallacy?

Andy dragged his feet in getting surgery? Nope, he was diabetic and had to get that under control before the surgery. Posted about it here, too.
Bile Duct confusion? It's part of the syndrome known as pancreatic cancer. One google could have cleared that up, if anyone that doubted it was actually looking for the truth instead of trying to spread innuendo and misinformation.

[benburch]

57. The chaos was manufactured.

By about six people, many of whom we have made known to law enforcement.

[Bouncy Ball]

121. OMG Malva. PM me the amount of money you donated

and a post office box to reach you at or a paypal address. I will send YOU the amount you donated to Andy so that you can feel better about things.

Whew.

[bettyellen]

125. she doesn't want a refund, it's her license to bitch

she says she wants things resolved professionally, but refuses to allow it.

[amazona]

56. thank you, yes, I have been out of town and out of country

I am much relieved to hear that the fund-raising efforts are now properly registered and wish it had been publicized better. People who dip in from time to time are definitely getting the wrong impression, as I can tell you from private emails I have received. I tried to contact the administrators upon my return from Asia but heard nothing, so you'll have to forgive me for not knowing the updated information. I did try.

My partner had a co-worker who lost her house, her parents, and her children in a fire, and nonetheless it was arranged for her to have a properly registered bank account to receive funds almost immediately. There is no going back in time for anyone, but the lesson to be learned for all of us is that doing things right doesn't cost time...it save time. We would have been spared a lot of completely unnecessary to and fro if one kind friend or colleague had spared a moment to walk Andy through the legal process at the beginning. Private fund-raisers are not rare, and one's bank and/or attorney knows the proper procedure. If there's no time to do something right in the beginning, it's always best to ask yourself where you'll get the time to do it over.

Thank you for the update and the reassurance.

All's well that ends well. Next time we'll handle it better.

[Stephanie]

58. Did you make the suggestion at the time, or only in hindsight?

It's interesting that I don't recollect anyone at the time of the fundraiser suggesting a bank account be set up. The fundraisers were not professionals and were doing as much as they knew how to do. Had anyone suggested setting up a bank account at the time I'm sure it would have been a welcome suggestion. There is a lot of criticism now, in hindsight, but I wonder if you would have known exactly how to set up such an account, etc, if your friend was in the same trouble? Hindsight is 20-20.

[EFerrari]

59. Let me reiterate this so there can be no misunderstanding.

Andy doesn't have a cavity or a sprained wrist.

Andy has the most aggressive cancer one can have. He cannot do his own banking or his own bookkeeping, unless you'd have him unplug himself from multiple machines and rush home from the hospital to do his books. If he could sit up that long.

Is there just a little bit clearer to you?

And now, as I've already said, there has been time to set up an apparatus.

Maybe, in hind sight, I should have just called Johns Hopkins and said, "I'm so sorry. You'll just have to cancel Andy's surgery, because I'll need a week to ten days to travel to a different state, set up a trust, interview lawyers and make sure the paperwork is in order. You'll just toss him out of the surgical rotation for good? Oh, well. Our paperwork must be in order, that's the way it goes."

No, I don't think so.

[merh]

74. Hey check it out

LBN Article on Andy

Hope this clears things up for you!!!!
http://tinyurl.com/8wv76

[bettyellen]

43. skinner determined himself that the fundraising was on the up and up.....

and since that time, there has been no fundraising here at all.
so i'm not sure what you are trying to insinuate here or what purpose you have dredging up three year old posts. sre you saying that since he had money three years ago, he should have known enough to save it for an unforseen emergency?
well, thanks for the hindsight, it's incrediblty helpful.

[noiretextatique]

44. if you didn't donate

then why are you posting this information? i find it hard to believe it's out of "concern."

[bettyellen]

46. yeah, if anything i see it as trying to create bad feelings

more than it is simple ignorance of the current situation.

[noiretextatique]

47. agreed eom

[Just Me]

22. Sending warm and healing thoughts and prayers.

:hug: Sorry you're still feeling icky, Andy. :hug:

[SmokingJacket]

24. Thanks for this website, Ben

Sending best wishes to Andy...

[catmandu57]

25. My monthly contribution will be in the mail tomorrow

Has Andy ever applied for ssi?

[meganmonkey]

26. Prayers to Andy

for healing and strength and patience.

He's such a fighter, I imagine he will be just fine very soon.
:loveya:

[spooky3]

27. Thank you, benburch, and please convey our good wishes to Andy.

[Individualist]

28. Thank you for the update,

and thank you for the website. I'm praying Andy will have a full recovery.

[goodboy]

29. Kick...I hope he gets through this soon. (nt)

[Infomaniac]

30. Feel better soon my friend.

I'm sorry to hear about the latest hospitalization. I hope you are up and around very soon.

[Arugula Latte]

32. If thousands of DUers could just will that fever away

it would be gone in a flash.

Sending good thoughts to Andy.

[Jack Rabbit]

33. Get well, Andy

:hug:

[Shredr]

34. Get better soon, Andy

We're all pulling for you.

[progressoid]

35. Good DU vibes going your way Andy!

[GreenPartyVoter]

36. Give Andy a hug from me

[EFerrari]

38. GOOD NEWS THIS MORNING!

The doctors have decided that what is causing Andy's pain and discomfort is that pesky pancreas, not any offspring of Bev's. So, they're putting him on a program that should resolve it to prepare for his chemo!

That means, no surgery right now (yes!) and Andy may get to go home early next week (yes!2).

Thank you, DUers!

:hi:

[meganmonkey]

39. That's great!

Thanks Beth!

[greatauntoftriplets]

40. I was on the phone talking with Andy when I saw this thread...

He sounds 100 percent better than yesterday and so relieved with the good news.

[Garbo 2004]

45. Thanks for the update! n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

48. Good news.

!!

[enigmatic]

49. This is great to hear

Thanks for this:)

[Janice325]

120. Thanks for that update, sfexpat2000

Muchly appreciated!!!
Sending more positive vibes Andy's way.
Also, thanks to all the positive posters on this thread.

[bettyellen]

41. thank you , ben.

i guess we can look forward to some malacious time-line obsessed idiots posting that he didn't start his chemo this week.

[benburch]

55. Don't worry about them...

It's the same six people reading and posting all of that.

They don't matter.

[benburch]

54. New thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3989003&mesg_id=3989003

[tinfoilinfor2005]

90. Hey Andy! Joke for you...

This famous doctor dies and goes to heaven. At the pearly gates he sees a line of about one hundred people waiting to get in. He goes to the head of the line and tells St. Peter, "I am Doctor Jones, the most famous surgeon in the world. May I please enter?" St. Peter responds, "Please wait at the end of the line." A few minutes later another guy in surgical garb comes along, bypasses the line and goes straight to St. Peter who instantly opens the gates and lets him in. At once Doctor Jones storms up to St. Peter and demands an explanation. "I saw you let that man in. I demand to know why. I am the most famous surgeon in the world and I have never seen that guy before." St. Peter smiles and says "Oh, well, that was God. He just likes to play doctor sometimes."

Now please remember to laugh at least once an hour. Much better for you than reading any freeper b.s. :)

[In_The_Wind]

95. thank you benburch

hugs to Andy and Termite

You're both are included in my meditations

[WillyT]

112. Message Removed

:evilfrown:

[Liberal In Texas]

119. Thanks for the update. Andy: R&R, it's the best. When you feel better

come back and GIVE 'EM HELL!

:)

[fleabert]

122. Please Read!

long story short, i lost my grandmother/best friend in 2003 after a very short battle with cancer, non-hodgkin's lymphoma. The tumor was nearly eradicated with surgery and two rounds of chemo. she got a staph infection from her stint and nearly died, survived, and then got anemia. She went back to the hospital on Tuesday, was out of Intensive Care on Saturday, was supposed to come home the following tuesday. She died on Sunday. (we buried her the day she was supposed to come home, it was awful and unexpected, she was only 67) Pulmonary Embolism was what the autopsy showed as cause of death. She had developed blood clots during the staph infection.

If I knew then what I know now about blood clots, I would have been much more vigilant and forceful with the staff about her care, as it related to the blood clots. I am convinced that had they treated the clots with more respect, and told us how serious they were, she might be alive today.

Please look up PE, and make sure they do everything in their power to prevent and/or treat it if Andy gets blood clots.