Latest news with #Amundson
Calgary Herald
07-08-2025
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Calgary woman recovering from emergency surgery in Japan, needs to pay hospital bill before leaving
A Calgary woman who underwent emergency surgery in Tokyo is on the road to recovery after suffering a perforated intestine while on vacation. Article content Dione Amundson was on a trip to Japan with her 19-year-old son when she suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. It was there that she was told she required an emergency surgery. Article content Article content While Amundson was undergoing tests and treatments to prepare for surgery, her son, Peyton, was navigating the mounting hospital bills and a language barrier. Back home in Calgary, Amundson's best friend, Belinda Morrison, started a GoFundMe campaign to help raise the funds needed for the surgery, as well as other medical expenses. Article content Article content Amundson had surgery on July 18, and has since been recovering in the hospital. Article content Article content 'She's doing better,' Morrison said. 'She's just, I think, more bored than anything, because there's no one to talk to, and they don't speak her language. She just can't wait to get home. Article content 'She's sending me more messages and stuff, so I can tell she's getting better,' she said. 'Because before, I never heard a word from her unless I phoned her.' Article content In a video update from Aug. 3 on the GoFundMe page, Amundson shared that she had been upgraded to soft food, but still had tubes in her neck and arm providing a nutritional supplement. Article content 'I just continue to try to get stronger,' she said in the video. 'Thanks, and (I) miss everybody. I want to be back in Calgary very badly.' Article content The light at the end of the tunnel is in sight for Amundson, though — she'll be released from the hospital on Aug. 12, and will be allowed to fly home on Aug. 18. Her insurance will cover the cost of the flight home, but reimbursement for the rest of the expenses is still up in the air. Article content Article content 'The hospital will not deal with insurance,' Morrison said. 'They have to pay the bill before they go … even if insurance is going to pay or not. Article content 'Either way, they have to pay the bill, and then they have to figure everything out when they get back.' Article content Morrison and Amundson's community has gone above and beyond to offer support. A friend of Morrison's even offered the use of a private medevac jet at the fraction of the cost. Article content 'He says, 'We'll soak most of it up, but if insurance can pay the rest, or you guys, we'll make it happen,'' Morrison said. However, Amundson's insurance wouldn't sign off on it, and her surgeon wasn't ready to discharge her, despite the jet having an ICU on board. Article content The GoFundMe campaign has now raised more than $20,000, but without knowing what Amundson's insurance will cover, it's difficult to know if that will be enough. The surgery alone cost $25,000, with other medical expenses adding to the total. Amundson's son has also had to cover the cost of his hotel stays and food over the past few weeks, dipping into the funds he had saved up for school. Article content Morrison said she's regularly on the phone with him, helping him to navigate the situation. Article content Teen son trying to navigate insurance and mom's recovery while in a foreign country Article content Amudson's son, Peyton, said they had only enjoyed three days in Toyko before his mother was hit with the severe abdominal pain that sent her to the hospital. Article content 'I was planning on having a fun-filled vacation,' he said. 'I love traveling with my mom, and so I thought this was going to be a great opportunity to just kind of bond some more.' Article content He said he didn't feel at all equipped to handle the situation, but he did what he had to do. Article content 'I was just in a panic and a shock, but I would do anything to help my mom in any way,' he said. Article content 'My social work background is coming into it — that's what I'm in school for,' he said. 'I'm just like, 'Stay calm, stay collected, do some of the things I've learned in that, and just kind of manage it.' Article content Article content Peyton said he's been leaning on classmates, friends and family for support. He's able to visit the hospital between 3 and 8 p.m. each day, but otherwise, he's more or less on his own. Article content 'I try to do some things in the day, but my mind doesn't always allow me to do that,' he said. Article content 'When I'm not at the hospital, there's lots of times I'm bookkeeping receipts, I'm sending things to insurance, I'm calling insurance, I'm calling my bank … to authorize a credit limit increase to somehow pay these hospital bills.' Article content 'She's getting back to her normal self,' he said. 'It's day by day. Some days are worse than others, but she's definitely on the road to recovery and definitely moving in the right direction. Now it's just that waiting game of when she's medically fit to travel.'
USA Today
03-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Golden State Warriors jersey history - No. 19 - Lou Amundson 92010-11)
The Golden State Warriors have had over 600 players don the more than 60 jersey numbers used by their players over the more than 75 years of existence the team has enjoyed in its rich and storied history. Founded in 1946 during the Basketball Association of America (BAA -- a precursor league of the NBA) era, the team has called home the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Oakland, and even San Diego. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Warriors Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. For this article, we begin with the 12th of 13 players who wore the No. 19 jersey for the Warriors. That player would be Golden State forward alum Lou Amundson. After ending his college career at UNLV, Amundson would go unselected in the 2006 NBA Draft, instead playing in the G League before signing with the Utah Jazz in 2007. He would also play for the Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns before signing with the Golden State Warriors in 2010. His stay with the team would span 46 games before he would be dealt to the Indiana Pacers in 2011. During his time suiting up for the Warriors, Amundson wore only jersey No. 19 and put up 4.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.
Calgary Herald
17-07-2025
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Calgary woman awaits emergency surgery in Japan, facing mounting hospital bills
Dione Amundson is awaiting emergency surgery in Japan. Photo from GoFundMe A GoFundMe campaign has been started for a Calgary woman who is awaiting emergency surgery in Japan, and is facing mounting hospital bills. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Dione Amundson was enjoying a trip with her 18-year-old son when she unexpectedly became ill and was rushed to the hospital. She was diagnosed with a perforated intestine, which can be fatal if not treated quickly. She is awaiting emergency surgery, but it's estimated to cost $25,000 CAD, on top of bills for the ambulance and initial testing, said best friend Belinda Morrison, who started the fundraiser on Amundson's behalf. Morrison said the surgery is scheduled for Thursday evening – Friday morning in Japan – but they're not yet sure if insurance will cover it. Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again 'The first day I found out, all I did was cry,' Morrison said. 'Then I thought, 'Belinda, get it together. You need to put your emotion into action,' – and that's what I did.' She described Amundson, who works as a teacher's aide for the Calgary Board of Education, as selfless – always quick to help others, but rarely asking for help for herself. 'She never asks me for anything,' she said. 'She doesn't want to burden people.' Morrison spoke with Amundson Thursday morning, and said she was in a lot of pain. 'She is not looking good,' Morrison said. 'The infection has spread through her body. 'The surgery is delicate. It is not a easy surgery,' she said. Amundson's son, Peyton, has been trying to manage the medical expenses and speaking to the doctors through a translator, but he hadn't slept in two days, Morrison said. 'He is very responsible,' she said. 'He's trying to do his best for his mom.' In one day, the GoFundMe has raised more than $14,000 towards covering the surgery, hospital and ambulance bills, flights home and additional recovery costs. 'I do see a lot of support coming in. I can't believe it actually,' Morrison said. 'I have people saying, 'We're going to Tokyo – we're going to go to the hospital, we are going to talk to the surgeons, we speak Japanese.' 'People are coming out of the woodwork to help Dione and Peyton.' She said many of the donations have come from people she knows personally through her dog rescue, CB Rescue Foundation, and her work as a personal trainer. Amundson's church, Parallel Church in Okotoks, will also be collecting donations for her cause this Sunday. In a message to Morrison, Amundson said, 'Thank you guys so much. I love you so much, and I'm trying to stay strong for everyone. I just wish they could knock me out so the pain is gone.' Morrison said despite the fear and uncertainty, she's hoping for the best. 'I'm just going to keep a positive attitude,' she said. 'We have a lot of people praying.'
UPI
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Watch: Bears join humans waiting outside Colorado concert venue
July 11 (UPI) -- A pair of bears with an apparent taste for live music joined the crowds of people waiting to get into a concert at Colorado's iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater. Fans waiting to get into the Russ show featuring Big Sean and Sabrina Claudio -- appropriately part of the Into the W!ld Tour 2025 -- spotted the two playful bruins lingering outside the venue in Morrison. Red Rocks employee Jon Amundson snapped a photo of the one of the bears walking around a corner toward a line of people waiting to get inside. Amundson said the bears did not act aggressive or threatening. "They were very relaxed, not skittish. Very playful with each other," he told McClatchy News. "They walked across the road, didn't run. As you can see all the people in the background didn't seem to bother the bears too much. It was an awesome sight that's for sure." Another visitor captured video of the bears on a nearby trail. Amundson said it was the first time he had spotted a bear at the venue. "As an outdoor venue surrounded by parklands and trails, we host fans of all species year-round. Never approach wildlife, and ask for one of our park rangers if you need assistance," Red Rocks officials wrote on the venue's official Instagram page.
Miami Herald
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Playful' bears join crowd at sold-out Red Rocks show in Colorado. ‘Awesome sight'
A couple of unexpected guests showed up to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado the night of a sold-out concert, photos show. Two 'playful' bears filed out of the iconic venue as people started filtering in for the sold-out Russ show Tuesday, July 8. Jon Amundson snapped a photo of one of the bears walking around a corner toward a line of people in a parking lot waiting to get inside the venue. Several people in the photo seem to have spotted the bear and stand frozen, perhaps waiting to see where it heads next. Amundson shared the photo to his Facebook page that night. 'Been to Red Rocks 100 times, finally seen a bear,' he said in the post. 'There was 2 actually. Awesome.' The bears didn't seem fazed by the crowd, Amundson told McClatchy News via Facebook Messenger. 'They were very relaxed, not skittish. Very playful with each other,' he said. 'They walked across the road, didn't run. As you can see all the people in the background didn't seem to bother the bears too much. It was an awesome sight that's for sure.' The bears had just walked down a ramp out of the venue before he took the photo. 'Never seen 1 in 7 years,' a security guard who has worked at the venue said in the comments on Amundson's Facebook post. 'That's a first.' Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is about a 15-mile drive southwest from Denver.
