The Dov Bear Report: June 2008

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Ashford Benefit

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Lynette Westendorf
lynette@lwmusic.com

Ashford Benefit set for July 15

Several people in the community have been working on finalizing the details of a benefit for Dov Ashford, who was seriously injured in a car accident two weeks ago.
Dov will remain hospitalized for the foreseeable future in Spokane with multiple fractures, cuts and a head injury.

Aaron and Becky Studen at the Twisp River Pub are opening the venue especially for the benefit, which will take place on Tuesday, July 15, 6-10 p.m. The benefit will include a special buffet dinner, music and a raffle. Admission will be a sliding scale.

Special guest of the evening is Laura Love, who expressed enthusiasm at the opportunity to help out. The evening will open with a bluegrass set featuring Brad Pinkerton and Leah Larson, with Laura sitting in on a few tunes. The second set will be a jazz set with Terry Hunt, Lynette Westendorf and friends, along with Laura sitting in for a few standards. The final set of the evening will feature the young talent of the valley, including many of those musicians with whom Dov often performed.

The raffle will be interspersed between the music sets. Many folks in the community have already offered to contribute items. Ashford family friend Melanie Whittaker is handling the raffle details, including ticket sales and organization of items donated. Melanie can be contacted at 996-2734 or mimiwhitt@methownet.com.

A special account for the Ashfords has been set up at North Cascades National Bank, P.O. Box 7, Twisp, WA, 98856.

The Dov Bear

On June 16th, 2008, Dov was in a major car accident on the road between Winthrop and Twisp. In addition to breaking his leg, back, ribs, and shoulder, he suffered a collapsed lung and massive head trauma. He is now beginning the long road to recovery at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, a place where he has already spent far too much of his life. For those who are not familiar with Dov's story, he was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 11, received a bone marrow transplant from his mother Sara who was the donor, fought the disease for years, and still struggles with the side effects of the treatment. Now he is back in the hospital facing a whole different fight, but he is no amateur at this kind of thing, and with his family and community behind him we're sure that he'll overcome these obstacles as well.

METHOW VALLEY NEWS ARTICLE

Winthrop man improving after wreck

By John Hanron

A 28-year-old Winthrop man who survived a car crash over a 150-foot embankment is expected to be transferred out of the intensive care unit soon, but his family expects a long road to recovery.

Dov B. Ashford was in satisfactory condition Tuesday (June 24) at Deaconess Medical Center in Spokane. According to his father, Don Ashford, Dov’s breathing tube was removed over the weekend and he was able to speak for the first time since the accident June 17.

"We know he’s in there," the elder Ashford said. "They asked him, ‘Do you know you are involved in a radio station?’" Dov’s reply: "KTRT." The local radio station is a project of the father-son team.

The younger Ashford was driving westbound on Highway 20 about five miles east of Winthrop the night of June 16 when he lost control of his vehicle, went over a 150-foot embankment and came to rest on its side. He was not discovered until about 6 a.m. the next morning, about six hours after the accident.

"He got smashed up pretty bad," his father said. He said Dov suffered fractures to his nose, his back, one leg and his scapula. He also had multiple cuts and bruises and some bleeding in his head, though he did not fracture his skull. Ashford said Dov did not hurt any internal organs in the crash, which he said bodes well for his son’s recovery. "I think that’s what’s making the difference."

Injuries to his mouth and tongue have necessitated a feeding tube in his nose for now.

"He can take a lot of discomfort," his dad said, "which is a good thing because he looks damn uncomfortable."
Ashford said doctors say it may take his son a couple of years to recover from the accident.

Dov is a technical whiz who has helped extensively with the computer technology systems at Liberty Bell High School and has assisted his father in developing KTRT, the new FM radio station based out of Winthrop. "He’s got so many user names and passwords in his brain," his father said.

"We just want to get Dov back home so at least we’re not all spread out," he said of his family. Ashford, his wife, Sarah, and their four other adult children are pulling shifts in Spokane to be close to Dov.

"It’s one of those amazing things," Ashford said. "When you’re the recipient of goodwill, you realize how rare that is. You feel it when you come back home. It’s just more real than it is out there."

To help raise money for the family’s expenses, there will be a musical benefit and auction at the Twisp River Pub on July 15, times and schedule to be announced. To donate items for auction, contact Lynette Westendorf at 996-3418.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Ashford Benefit

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