Belizean Animator Needs Help With Medical Bills

The musician and animator behind the Tecuani and Duende animated movie, David Smith, is hospitalized after surviving a life threatening medical event. Although he underwent two life saving surgeries, Smith is not yet out of the woods. His family is seeking support to meet the expenses incurred as a result of costly medication and care. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A ruptured appendix usually requires immediate surgery or else it could prove fatal. But musician and animator David Smith lived with his appendix ruptured for almost five days until he was treated. His brother-in-law spoke to News Five.

Mervin Budram

Mervin Budram, Brother-in-Law

“This process started about two weeks ago. Saturday David was feeling some pain, on his right side lower side of his body. He woke up with fever, he was vomiting. Initially the family thought it was food poisoning. He quickly went to a medical clinic in the area. A specialist came in, I think it was Dr. Godoy, and instantly he said, these are all the signs of appendix. This is now Wednesday, this is all the way from Saturday and we are now at Wednesday after. They verified it; his appendix had ruptured from the Saturday before. And we are all the way at Wednesday. So they had to rush him into emergency surgery. And based on what they were saying, at that stage it was already passed general infection. The poison had spread through his body, in the chest area, also down into.”

They performed two surgeries on David Smith, and although he is still hospitalized, this morning he posted a “thank you” video via Facebook to all who have been supporting him during this frightening time.

David Smith

David Smith, Belizean Animator

“I just want quickly thank you all that have been supporting so far, whether by prayers of financially. I appreciate all of them. I have been feeling much better. I still have a long road ahead, but I just wanted give you guys a quick update.”

The family is appealing for financial help during his recovery.

Mervin Budram 

“There is infection and there is the septic stage. There is this severe stage. And, he was at the severe stage. They have been doing everything, some major antibiotics. One of the antibiotics is two hundred a shot and he had to get like four of those per day. It has just been very severe. As you can image the expense just quickly racked up. Basically they are keeping him until this Saturday and we are looking at a twenty one thousand dollars plus bill.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

If you would like to help with David Smith’s medical expenses, you can visit the go-fund-me page set up by his family. You can also contact Mervin Budram on Facebook to find out about other ways to offer support. https://gofund.me/5a3522f4