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Point Richmonder Dan Doellstedt critically injured in cycling accident,
The Memorial Service for Danny Weinstein who died in the same accident
was held on Thursday, September 28  details below

From: Peggy Doellstedt
Sent: October 5, 06
Subject: Dan Doellstedt update
Good morning everyone,
 
Here is the daily update from Dan's nurse:
 
They expect the respirator to most likely come out tomorrow. 
His breathing is sometimes is too fast, so they want to make
sure he can breathe on a consistent regular basis before taking
out the tube.
 
The nurse said that when the tube comes out some patients
are able to talk and some are not right away, due to the
throat discomfort.
 
He has not suffered anymore seizures and his fever is low
grade which is not unusal. 
 
The have had him off the feeding tube for the last 2 days, as
his stomach is distended (bloated).  They have been giving
him medication to soften his bowels, which seems to finally
be working. 
 
You may ask "Why is Peggy telling us all this?"
TMI (too much information).  Well the reason is that yesterday
when my brother Carl was visiting, the nurse asked
Dan where do you feel pain?  Dan pointed to his stomach.
So for him to feel pain below his chest would be a fantastic
sign.  So keep up all the prayers, chanting, positive thoughts,
visualization of Dan walking or anything else that feels good
for you.
 
Dan loves you all!
Peggy
 
P.S. please do not hesitate to email me with other people who would like to be added to this group email.
Melanie Leidecker
From: Peggy Doellstedt
Sent: October 4, 06
Subject: Dan Doellstedt update

Hello to you all!

First of all I would like to say thank you so much for all your thoughts, prayers
and love that you have been sending to my brother Dan and my family.  It means
so much to all of us.
 
There are some of you on this email list that might be hearing this news for the
first time.  My brother Dan Doellstedt and his friend Danny Weinstein were riding
their mountain bikes on Sunday afternoon, September 24th and were hit head on
by a car.  This happened near the Richmond/San Rafael bridge in a designated
bike lane.  Their good friend Michael Meyer's was there when it happened and helped
to get them to the hospital as soon as possible.  They were helicoptered to
John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek.  I thank Michael so much for being their
Angel in this most difficult time.
 
Danny Weinstein passed away on Tuesday, September 26th.  He was visiting
from Australia with his wife Michelle and his 2 daughters Michaela and Emma.
Danny was having such a great time visiting with all his childhood friends in the
Bay Area.
 
Dan Doellstedt is still in critical condition.  He has had 2 major surgeries.  The
first surgery was to put 2 metal rods in his back from T 1-12 (thorasic).  This is
mainly in the middle of the back.  The second surgery was on his right femur
which was broken in 3 different places (biggest bone in his upper thigh).  Both
surgeries were successful. 
 
The main concern right now is that he has not moved his legs since the accident.
The Neuro Surgeon said that due to his T4 being so badly damaged, he thinks
that there is a good chance that Dan will not be able to walk again.  The good
news is that he does not know for sure.  Dan has been on a respirator and sedated
heavily.  They are currently trying to wean him off the respirator, which they hope
will be in the next 1-2 day.   The nurse today said that he is doing well.  His eyes
are opening and alert.  He is responding to simple commands and executing them.
Such as squeezing a hand when asked.  
 
He has no idea of what is going on at this point.  He has a lot of emotional hurdles that
he is going to have to go through, along with the obvious physical.  Please pray, visualize
him walking, chant, send good energy/thoughts or whatever works best for you.  He is
strong and very stubborn which is a very good thing. 
 
I will be sending updates most everyday on his recovery.  If you have any further
questions, please do not hesitate to call or email me.  I do not mind at all.
 
I will also let you know when he can receive visitors.  Currently only immediate family
members can see him.  The doctors/nurses estimate about 2 weeks more in the ICU.
 
If you know of anyone else that would like to receive an update on Dan, please just
send me their email address and I will add it to the group.
 
Wishing you all good things!
Peggy Doellstedt

From: doellstedt@sbcglobal.net
Sent: Sat, 30 Sept 2006 10:44 AM
Subject: Dan Doellstedt update - Sat morning - 9/30

Dear Family and Friends,
 
Dan continues to be stable, yet in very critical condition. 
 
The doctors want to keep him on the ventilator for a few more days and experiment next week with weaning him into breathing independently.  There is a delicate balance between reducing his sedative medicines because of his incredible amount of pain throughout the entire body, and yet attempting to allow him to breathe which will be very painful. 
 
The biggest risk factors continue to be:  1) Lung Contusions - ARDS (Advance Respitory Distress Syndrome,  2) Infections,  3) Blood Clots,  4) Pneumonia
 
The doctor estimates he will be in ICU for at least 1 or 2 more weeks assuming good progress.
 
We are seeing the first signs of mobility in his upper body, yet none in the lower body.  We will not have any specific news on paralysis until Dan comes conscience, which will be 4 to 6 days from now we estimate.
 
The swelling is going down on his head.  We are told he hears us, so we enjoy chatting with him.
 
We are very grateful for the abundance of your prayers, love and concern.
 
Rich Doellstedt for the Doellstedt Family

From: Melanie Leidecker
Date: Saturday, September 30, 8:17pm
Subject: Dan Doellstedt

Dans's spinal surgery took about 9 hours for the surgeon  to complete, and went very well. ( He is being treated some of  the best doctors and surgeons available)   That same evening Dan was back in the OR to have his femur repaired.  It was broken in three places, and now is held together with a rod and screws.  His surgeon was extremely pleased with the out come.  We will  continue  with prayer and positive thinking towards Dan's recovery.

From Rich Doellstedt for the Doellstedt Family

Dan continues to be stable, yet in very critical condition. 

The doctors want to keep him on the ventilator for a few more days and experiment next week with weaning him into breathing independently.  There is a delicate balance between reducing his sedative medicines because of his incredible amount of pain throughout the entire body, and yet attempting to allow him to breathe which will be very painful. 
 
The biggest risk factors continue to be:  1) Lung Contusions - ARDS (Advance Respitory Distress Syndrome,  2) Infections,  3) Blood Clots,  4) Pneumonia
 
The doctor estimates he will be in ICU for at least 1 or 2 more weeks assuming good progress.
 
We are seeing the first signs of mobility in his upper body, yet none in the lower body.  We will not have any specific news on paralysis until Dan comes conscience, which will be 4 to 6 days from now we estimate.
 
The swelling is going down on his head.  We are told he hears us, so we enjoy chatting with him.
 
We are very grateful for the abundance of your prayers, love and concern

From: Melanie Leidecker
Date: Friday, September 29, 12:53am
Subject: Dan Doellstedt

Tonight we have some good news to share.  Peggy called around 10:00 p.m. to let us all know that Dan has come out of surgery  and that everything appears to have gone really well .   The next step is to repair his femur bone which will require another surgery.   He still has a long way to go towards his recovery, so please continue to keep him in your prayers and thoughts!

From: Melanie Leidecker
Date: Thursday, September 28, 12:45pm
Subject: Dan Doellstedt - current update

Dan's sister Peggy called this morning to give an update on Dan's progress, and would like for us to pass this on to everyone who knows Dan, or even if they don't know him to please pray for him.  We all need to do whatever it is that works for us wether by prayer, thoughts, meditation, energy flow . . . . . anything! We just need to keep as much love and hope as possible flowing in and around Dan.
The first 3 days in the hospital, Dan's family stayed by his side praying for him, watching him, talking to him and giving him the comfort and strength of their love. The night before last he had a seizure, but just that once, and the doctors thought it was probably due to over stimulation, and felt that hearing the familiar  voices,  and not being aware of what he's going through was too much for him right now.
According to the CT scan that was taken yesterday, (and in laymen terms), his spine is pretty much crumbled in the middle part of his back. #'s 3,6, and 7 are the vertebrates that are damaged the most, but they will be fusing 1 through 12. Basically they will be inserting 2 titanium rods down the middle of his back with screws to hold the area together  where his ribs connect.  With this type of injury, the good news is that his neck and lower back are okay, and his surgeon (who is one of the best available) has seen many people pull through this sort of surgery without complication. On the flip side there is a chance he may not be able to use his legs again. Dan will be going in for this surgery today at noon, and it will take anywhere from 6 to 8+ hours. He is anemic right now, and they are hoping that this won't delay the surgery from being completed today. I will send an update as soon as I hear more. I believe Dan has the inner spiritual strength and courage to pull through this--and together with all of us who know and love him (or don't know him, but are praying for him anyway) he is going to continue to be someone truly special in this world.
 
Thank you all for helping to get the word out, I am hanging on to the hope of getting back to you with Good News as soon as I hear anything.
 
Melanie Leidecker

From: David Kamil
To: Michael P. Meyer

To follow up on the unfortunate news related in Michael's email, I have been asked by Dan Weinstein's family to inform his friends of a memorial service to be held in his honor on Thursday, September 28. 

The gathering will be held at 6:30 PM in Lafayette at the home of Paul and Sheila Guess, friends of the Doellstedt family. They live at 4060 Happy Valley Road, though by city ordinance the number of cars allowed to park on the street there is limited. They are asking that you either park at the BART station or take BART, then ring Paul to be picked up from there and taken to the house. The phone number at the house is (925) 284-9135.

Food and drink will be served.

If there is anyone else you think would like to attend and whose name is not included on the above list of email recipients, please pass along this information to them. Thank you.

I hope to see you there,

David Kamil

From: Michael P. Meyer
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 9:29 PM
Subject: Re: Dan Doellstedt/Dan Weinstein

I have attended many of the local events in Pt. Richmond, with Dan D. and his other friends. I live in Marina Bay and am a neighbor to Bob Cambell and Maria Viramontes.

This is a tragedy, safe access to Point Molate must be provided.

I have received the following information from the Weinstein family, if you wish to pass it on to those who knew Dan W. and want to pay respects. 

Dan W's mother, Saryl will be here as well as his wife Michelle, their daughters, Michaela, and Emma, as well as Michelle's brother Peter and sister Marie

From Shirley Butt
Sent: Wed 9/27/2006
Subject: FYI: Dan Doellstedt/Dan Weinstein

I am passing on this tragic news to all of you who I believe have known at least one of these two young men who grew up in the Point. Bizarrely, there has been no report of this horrific accident in either our local paper or the TV media to my knowledge.

I understand that Danny Weinstein, who grew up on East Scenic with his mother Saryl, was visiting with his wife and two daughters from his home in Australia. I don’t know where they are now, but I hope that our community can come together to support them in whatever way is possible.

Dan Doellstedt grew up in the 600 block of Western Drive, where his parents still live (next door to our first P.R. house). He is a member of the Point Richmond Business Association and has several websites, including one where Andrew found photos of Dan Weinstein’s family this morning: www.dansundesigns.com. He and his family deserve our prayers, our outrage, and whatever other support we can muster. The TRAC website gives some of the history of impediments to completing a safe portion of the Bay Trail connecting the Point to Point Molate. http://www.pointrichmond.com/baytrail/pointsanpablo.htm.

From: Michael P. Meyer
Sent: Tue 9/26/2006 8:54 PM
Subject: FYI: Dan Doellstedt/Dan Weinstein

On an afternoon bicycle ride on Sunday Sept. 24, Dan Doellstedt, Dan Weinstein, and myself were returning to Pt. Richmond from Pt. Molate on the portion of the bicycle path between Western Dr., and behind Chevron, which is on the shoulder of 580 Westbound, a car swerved into the shoulder lane about 100 ft. behind me hit the barrier and crashed head on into Dan D., and Dan W.

They were airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

Dan W. did not survive his injuries.

Dan D. is in critical stable condition with injuries to his legs, hip, a collapsed lung, and his neck.  He is being kept sedated.

Dan Weinstein, a former Point Richmond resident, was visiting from Austraila with his Wife, and 2 daughters, 8 and 4 yrs.

I don't have any more information about Dan D., I can update you if you wish, as his family provides me with updates.

FYI, Marin IJ has an article here: http://www.marinij.com/marin/ci_4392891

Note, the Marin IJ article contains misleading facts, we were in the designated bicycle lane, and not crossing the freeway, the car swerved into the shoulder lane.  I contacted the IJ, and will keep an eye out for a correction.