Over at Shelley’s weblog, she’s reproduced the information for donations to the Trust Account that has been set up for Rick’s medical bills (thanks Shelley!), and ruzz has suggested in the comments on her post that perhaps Paypal could be used to collect donations for the trust from wired folk, and further that if there were a Paypal account he’d donate. I have no idea how to do this, and I probably couldn’t do it from Korea anyway. Would it be sensible and safe to do this?
Is there anyone out there with experience in this sort of thing that can help set it up? It would be wonderful if someone could help…
Update : A major update from Aaron in the comments attached to this post –
Rick survived the blast and was actually found by an Australian consular official wandering around the site, still wearing his backpack. He was quite conscious and coherent but in obvious shock. He was running on pure adrenalin. His must have been facing away from the blast as his face is relatively unburnt although the back of his head is. He has lost most of his hair and also has scalp lacerations. The other burns are to his arms, legs and back. It seems his backpack may have absorbed alot of the balst. He does have a small piece of shrapnel in his back which has not yet been removed. It is no where near his spine and is not serious.
Rick was able to talk calmly and gave his name and Dick’s contact details to the officials. He was one of the first 30 airlifted to Darwin by the RAAF. He was conscious thoughout this. It was in Darwin that he started to decline. He started slurring his speech and had what appears to be a minor stroke caused either by an embolism or heart trauma caused by the blast. At this point he was sedated and sent to Melbourne via air ambulance. He has been sedated since and was unconscious while I was there today.
Rick also has burnt lungs, some cracked ribs and had some damage to his spleen. He has 1 perforated eardrum. Apart from the burns and the possibility of neurological damage caused by the stroke the most serious issue seems to be the heart trauma. He has a loose flap of muscle on his heart which is probably the result of the blast (apparently they can happen naturally). They may have to operate on his heart to rectify this.
While in Bali the Doctors think Rick may have had a blood transfusion (Balinese records were very poor). They were very concerned about this as Indonesia has very low blood collection and screening standards. They have performed the obvious battery of tests and he showed all clear.
He has been having skin grafts from unburnt skin on his abdomen. He has also had a tracheotomy to assist with his breathing.
He will be in ICU for at least a month and will remain at The Alfred for probably at least another m onth after that before returning to Canada.
I have also spoken with the nurses and one of the Doctors caring for Rick. In my amateur opinion he is going to pull through this. It won’t be easy but he will make it.
Aaron adds :
Aaron, all of us who are pulling for Rick are sparing a thought for you and for your friend David’s family and friends as well.
Never had any troubles with PayPal. Very easy to set up, and very secure. You can accept credit card payments as well, which is a bonus.
You can just go to the site and set up an account. If you enter your bank account info, they will direct deposit money into your account, and then you could just send a check.
Chris, Ruzz has volunteered over in my comments, and I’ll also help if for some reason Ruzz runs into problems.
Have you tried contacting paypal directly? They may help you out. If I understand correctly, paypal keeps a percentage of the donation as a fee, which if you contacted them and asked nicely, they might be willing to waive, given the circumstances.
The phone number they use when filing their SEC reports is no longer operating, but their mailing address is
1840 EMBARCADERO RD
PALO ALTO CA 94303
You may be able to use information and that address in order to find a real phone number.
Jason
I have been in to the Hospital this morning and seen Rick and his Father. I have seen Rick looking better.
Dick has given me his permission to write this. He is overwhelmed by the support that Rick is getting from his worldwide friends;
Rick survived the blast and was actually found by an Australian consular official wandering around the site, still wearing his backpack. He was quite conscious and coherent but in obvious shock. He was running on pure adrenalin. His must have been facing away from the blast as his face is relatively unburnt although the back of his head is. He has lost most of his hair and also has scalp lacerations. The other burns are to his arms, legs and back. It seems his backpack may have absorbed alot of the balst. He does have a small piece of shrapnel in his back which has not yet been removed. It is no where near his spine and is not serious.
Rick was able to talk calmly and gave his name and Dick’s contact details to the officials. He was one of the first 30 airlifted to Darwin by the RAAF. He was conscious thoughout this. It was in Darwin that he started to decline. He started slurring his speech and had what appears to be a minor stroke caused either by an embolism or heart trauma caused by the blast. At this point he was sedated and sent to Melbourne via air ambulance. He has been sedated since and was unconscious while I was there today.
Rick also has burnt lungs, some cracked ribs and had some damage to his spleen. He has 1 perforated eardrum. Apart from the burns and the possibility of neurological damage caused by the stroke the most serious issue seems to be the heart trauma. He has a loose flap of muscle on his heart which is probably the result of the blast (apparently they can happen naturally). They may have to operate on his heart to rectify this.
While in Bali the Doctors think Rick may have had a blood transfusion (Balinese records were very poor). They were very concerned about this as Indonesia has very low blood collection and screening standards. They have performed the obvious battery of tests and he showed all clear.
He has been having skin grafts from unburnt skin on his abdomen. He has also had a tracheotomy to assist with his breathing.
He will be in ICU for at least a month and will remain at The Alfred for probably at least another m onth after that before returning to Canada.
I have also spoken with the nurses and one of the Doctors caring for Rick. In my amateur opinion he is going to pull through this. It won’t be easy but he will make it.
Today has not been a good day for me. Apart from seeing Rick in his banged up state for the first time. I also learnt this morning that another friend of mine, David Kent died in the blast. David was a colleague of mine and to some extent a mentor in my career. Like Rick, David was a great guy, keen to smile and joke around and he enjoyed a beer. He and Rick didn’t deserve this. I hope they catch the bastards.
My god, that is so much Rick – staggering around with those horrific injuries, from sheer stubbornness and force of will.
Thank you so much for this update, Aaron. Please give my best to Dick and Audrey.
I’m so, so sorry to hear about your friend David. Words fail me – this is an awful awful time for so many people, and now it’s that much more awful for you.
I hope they catch the bastards too.
Oh, Aaron, I’m so sorry.
I am sure I’m just one of the many faceless individuals who has been following this from the beginning, but I can’t not say something now.
Unfortunately, the only thing I can say is, I’m so sorry. Stavros, I now know you more than before, and I also know your extended circle better as well – but I still don’t know them. All I know is that there is far too much pain for far too many good people involved here.
Aaron, I’m so sorry for your friend, and I hope he didn’t suffer. Stavros (I still can’t say Chris), I will continue to hope and pray each day that Rick comes through this alright. None of us deserve any of this.
Chris, Euan Semple at The Obvious (http://www.theobviousblog.net/blog/) organized a PayPal fund to buy a computer for Mark Woods.
I haven’t had any problems with PayPal. Setting up a PayPal account takes just a few minutes and is easier than having to draw a check in a foreign currency. In addition, all the donation goes to the fund whereas, with a check or money order, some will be siphoned off by the bank or post office.
I’m a hundred miles out of Sydney at the end of a very slow modem line. But I’ll be back home tomorrow evening and would be more than happy to take responsibility for setting up the PayPal account and ensuring that the donations get to Rick and his family.
Thank you Jonathon for the info and the offer. I think the guys in Canada (with the help of ruzz at ruzz.ca) are setting it up, though. It’s after midnight here, and I’m exhausted, and not thinking too straight.
I’ll try and find out where things are at with e-donations tomorrow, if it hasn’t been clarified here or via email…
Aaron, I’m so sorry to hear about your friend.
There is a very big article on the doctors and nurses that are caring for the Bali victims in today’s Sunday Age (Melbourne’s major daily newspaper). There is fairly major coverage of Rick and a small interview with Rick’s Father and photo. Unfortunately the article does not seem to be in soft copy yet so I can’t forward a link. I will get a copy tomorrow and email it. In the meantime I will email a separate scan of the photo from the newpaper. Sorry about the picture quality!
Im still waiting for Jamie or Barry to get in touch with me… Maybe check in with them and see whats what 🙂
got an email from barry and I explained his options to him.. the wheels are in motion now..
Fantastic – thanks Ruzz! The sooner we can make it easy for folks to drop a virtual coin in the jar, the better.
Thanks again.