Benefit Concert for Daniel Borowy

PerryHallParent November 24, 2012 at 02:46 pm

Now I already know I'm going to get flamed for making this comment, but I have a few questions. While I was just as horrified as any at the senseless violence and terrible injuries sustained by this innocent young man and the ensuing stress on his family, however, I would like to know what all these benefit funding is for. Did he not have health insurance? Is it for therapy costs not covered? I am in NO WAY trying to say that there shouldn't be benefits for someone who needs this funding for medical costs, but I think people should be informed of how these events are helping the family. I know my inquiry will be misread and taken wrong, but I feel strongly enough about the question to ask it.

Charles November 24, 2012 at 04:07 pm

I feel that the shooter's family should bare some of the financial burden.

PerryHallParent November 24, 2012 at 05:59 pm

Thank you Tim. I'm not trying to be spiteful, mean or disrespectful in any way. It's a sincere question. Charles, you have a good point as well. The shooter's family should be responsible for a certain level of restitution.

Kim Ruark November 24, 2012 at 08:23 pm

They need the money for his legal and medical bills. They both lost big that day.

Kim Ruark November 25, 2012 at 02:51 pm

I mean both families lost that day. The other boy's parents have to deal with the fact that they were so out of touch with the pain their son was in, that they could not give him better coping skills than murder-suicide as his only option, that they left guns around for him to access on demand. He knew ahead of time how much hatred there would be at his school, from the first day, that he could not overcome the problem on his own. I'm a teacher, not a psychologist, so this is all culled from the news since that horrible, horrible day. Mr. Wasmer tackled Robert to prevent any more violence (or was that when the gun went off?), but as the guidance counselor, he wouldn't have any way to know on the first day of school that the kid needed a guidance "tackle", to take him aside and get him help.
Thank God Daniel is able to return to school. The outpouring of affection, and donations, is admirable. I hope that Robert finds his way, too. Humbly submitted, as always.

PerryHallParent December 11, 2012 at 12:27 pm

Just finally getting back to this as I wanted to comment further. For Kim, my question is, what medical costs? Did he not have medical insurance? What legal costs? If there is a trial, his cause would be represented by the state's district attorney and their office who would be compiling the case for the prosecution. So what does his family need to pay in legal fees? If there are thousands of dollars being raised and given, I would like to know what it's for. It's a reasonable question and I asked it on November 24th and got exactly the response I thought; nothing.

Don Mattes December 11, 2012 at 11:56 pm

Back to PerryHallParent - the concert was organized for the community to gather for healing and to show a family we care. The event was free, with no financial obligation to anyone. However, donations were suggested as a gesture of good faith and generosity. Who cares where the donations were spent. If it bought comfort food, a book to read or a CD to listen to while recovering, all the better. With your funding question logic, I ask, why do we spend money on a get well card or ingredients for baking cookies to give to an ailing neighbor? I feel this concert gave us all an opportunity to send that card or give those cookies to an ailing family. I would like to think we do things willingly out of kindness, not questioning why or asking for a receipt.
Obviously you have never experienced a devistating medical crisis,of which I am personally grateful. If you did, you would know there are lots of charges not covered by medical insurance. That is exactly what has happened here. The point is - there is an entire Perry Hall family victomized by sensless violence. Living in Perry Hall all my life and seeing so many changes over the past 50+ years. I would still like to think we are a close community and care for each other without question. Are we becoming such skeptics that we need details before we give freely to our neighbors? Let me know when you get sick and I'll bake you a batch of cookies, but I'll need to know what you plan to do with them before I bring them over.

PerryHallParent December 12, 2012 at 12:11 am

Don, while I read through your intense sarcasm, I already stated in my original post that I knew I would get a response such as yours. I have been through more devastating medical crisis than you could ever imagine. I have suffered unimaginable loss and experienced a huge outpouring of support and kindness. However, I also took the time to not only thank people for their generosity, but told them how, during the deepest horrors my family endured, I let people know what I used the money for. They didn't ask me to, because I felt it was the right thing to do up front. No, there are not always things that aren't covered by medical insurance. Sometimes things are covered in full. However, in this case, with benefit after benefit, I would like to know what all these benefits are for. I have a right to ask where the donations I make are going, no matter what others think. Complete and utter silence from the family doesn't make me want to keep giving.