I'm going to show my whole ignorance on the health care system & treatment in this country, but my mom passed away two years ago from the same cancer James had, but she was 74. She had treatments for two full years, plus multiple extremely long (i'm talking one stay was 5 straight months!) hospital stays during this time. My parents are completely middle class.

How did my mom get away with these cancer treatments and long hospital stays not bankrupting them? With the sale of the house after she passed, my dad now has almost 2M in an investment account, and he now lives with my brother. There were a few residual bills from the hospital stays for a few months after she passed but those are gone now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were big entertainment business names like Guy Oseary among the top donors to the GoFundMe. If people want to contribute why should we have a problem with it? This is an untimely passing.

Well it’s all virtue signaling. All these celebs could send a check directly to her but instead do it on GFM who takes 3% or 5% for ongoing donations.

You think it's better to call the grieving widow right now to get her address to "send a check" that would probably get stolen out of the mail? This is an easy way to do it and not have to put any more thought in to it. They aren't going to send a check in the snail mail.

I have a lot of thoughts, the first being that I loved his roles and he seemed like a nice man and seemed like he loved his family and his death , so young, is a tragedy.

I also heard that the reason his cancer treatments were not covered was because he chose alternative therapies as opposed to traditional western medicine, therefore, insurance did not cover them. They were also, let’s face it, largely ineffective. I wish for his kids sakes that he had elected for traditional therapies. Not just for perhaps prolonging his life (although stage 3 colon cancer does not have a promising prognosis even with aggressive therapy), but so that his medical bills would not have drowned his family.

Also, the verbiage on his go fund me about “wanting the kids to stay in the home they know” and “continue their education in the environment they know” sounds to me like they are living somewhere that could be downsized, and are not receiving free public education. I have no interest in go fund mes for people to keep 6 children in private school , if they are in private school. Obviously his family can have a go fund me if they want and obviously lots of people wanted to donate. That’s fine. I just find it predatory. Not to mention raising the minimum donation from 1 to 5 dollars? They are richer than the vast majority of the people donating to them. And now they have an additional 2 million dollars. And that’s wonderful for his children because they didn’t ask for any of this. But it is not a good look, to be a former A list celebrity’s wife, asking for millions in handouts after the celebrity spouse dies, after he spent the savings on alternative therapies. Oh; and upping the minimum donation!!!

Anonymous wrote:Personally I think this situation highlights a large issue in this country. Why do people have to choose between healthcare and feeding their families? Why are we so broken as a society. It’s not like he wasn’t working. He did. He had a career, but then he got sick. And then he had to stop. And they burned through their savings taking care of him and living. And here they are. And they aren’t unique. This happens every single day in the US.

No offense, but most other countries won't do the kind of end of life healthcare you get in the US. They basically will just say, you're dying and we're not doing more treatments. My grandpa died at 85 of stage 4 cancer. I was shocked at how doctors kept trying to push all sorts of treatments at him. His cancer was irreversible and incurable, so at most they would have extended his life a few months. Even grandpa didn't want that and said palliative care only. In the U.S., a disproportionate share of total medical spending occurs in patients’ final 12 months. And this isn't a good thing. My grandpa died in so much more peace, at home, than he would have in the hospital trying more chemo.

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Anonymous wrote:I’m finding myself so upset by the comments here judging the family for putting out a go fund me. They must be in dire straights to have to do that. His wife is a widow with six young kids to raise alone. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

JVDB seemed like a kind person and a good soul. I wouldn’t wish his pain upon anybody - his illness or the pain he must have felt knowing he was leaving behind a big family and spending their savings in an attempt to save his life. I don’t understand how people can be so heartless.

Don’t they live on a multi-million dollar ranch?

If she sold and downsized to a normal home they probably come out ahead; I think its a hobby farm not an actual source of income?

They are renting that ranch. They don’t own it.

Do you know this for a fact? I know they initially rented (they said so) because they were not sure if they'd end up staying. But they might have bought it since.

I don't understand why people are upset about the GFM. I don't care if people ask for money. I don't care if people choose to donate to people. Neither of those affect me.

Whatever treatments James did or didn't do, whatever life insurance he had or didn't, there are still little kids who are going to become part of our society and it's better they are as educated as possible. Maybe they'll grow up and say "Wow, I wish Dad had set this up" or "It's too bad Dad didn't know to try _____" But we, as part of the society they'll be joining, should want them to become as educated as possible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m finding myself so upset by the comments here judging the family for putting out a go fund me. They must be in dire straights to have to do that. His wife is a widow with six young kids to raise alone. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

JVDB seemed like a kind person and a good soul. I wouldn’t wish his pain upon anybody - his illness or the pain he must have felt knowing he was leaving behind a big family and spending their savings in an attempt to save his life. I don’t understand how people can be so heartless.

Don’t they live on a multi-million dollar ranch?

If she sold and downsized to a normal home they probably come out ahead; I think its a hobby farm not an actual source of income?

They are renting that ranch. They don’t own it.

Anonymous wrote:They should be covering colonoscopies after 40.

Why?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were big entertainment business names like Guy Oseary among the top donors to the GoFundMe. If people want to contribute why should we have a problem with it? This is an untimely passing.

Well it’s all virtue signaling. All these celebs could send a check directly to her but instead do it on GFM who takes 3% or 5% for ongoing donations.

It’s weird to see Steven Spielberg donate on gofundme. I’m pretty sure there was a fund established with the Dawson’s Creek reunion that was meant to directly help the family with these expenses. Michelle Williams got Spielberg to record a video message for the event, so I’m sure his people are aware of the fund.

They might be donating to both. Celebrities are human too and they might have just seen it and felt emotional and decided to donate right now to that as well. Nothing wrong with it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were big entertainment business names like Guy Oseary among the top donors to the GoFundMe. If people want to contribute why should we have a problem with it? This is an untimely passing.

Well it’s all virtue signaling. All these celebs could send a check directly to her but instead do it on GFM who takes 3% or 5% for ongoing donations.

It’s weird to see Steven Spielberg donate on gofundme. I’m pretty sure there was a fund established with the Dawson’s Creek reunion that was meant to directly help the family with these expenses. Michelle Williams got Spielberg to record a video message for the event, so I’m sure his people are aware of the fund.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were big entertainment business names like Guy Oseary among the top donors to the GoFundMe. If people want to contribute why should we have a problem with it? This is an untimely passing.

Well it’s all virtue signaling. All these celebs could send a check directly to her but instead do it on GFM who takes 3% or 5% for ongoing donations.

I don’t have any problem with virtue signaling if they’re putting their money where their mouth is. They hope that attaching their name to it will encourage other people to donate.

I don’t think it’s a money grab. I believe what they wrote in the GFM that they depleted their funds paying for James treatments. You can question whether he made the right financial decisions or you can have compassion for his suffering family and the very vulnerable state they’re in right now.

Anonymous wrote:There were big entertainment business names like Guy Oseary among the top donors to the GoFundMe. If people want to contribute why should we have a problem with it? This is an untimely passing.

Well it’s all virtue signaling. All these celebs could send a check directly to her but instead do it on GFM who takes 3% or 5% for ongoing donations.

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Anonymous wrote:I’m finding myself so upset by the comments here judging the family for putting out a go fund me. They must be in dire straights to have to do that. His wife is a widow with six young kids to raise alone. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

JVDB seemed like a kind person and a good soul. I wouldn’t wish his pain upon anybody - his illness or the pain he must have felt knowing he was leaving behind a big family and spending their savings in an attempt to save his life. I don’t understand how people can be so heartless.

Don’t they live on a multi-million dollar ranch?

If she sold and downsized to a normal home they probably come out ahead; I think its a hobby farm not an actual source of income?

He also has a $4M penthouse in BH as a rental?

Or did they sell it all for treatment — do they not have health insurance?

https://www.realestate.com.au/news/james-van-der-beeks-42m-fortune-secret-texas-ranch-revealed/?campaignType=external&campaignChannel=syndication&campaignName=ncacont&campaignContent=&campaignSource=gold_coast_bulletin&campaignPlacement=spa

$4M is not a whole lot of money. I’m sure there is a mortgage on it. They are reporting he spent down his fortune trying to save his life.

No, insurance doesn’t cover all treatments of your stay close to a treatment facility. My uncle lives in Jackson hole and he had to rent a house near his treatment.

He put out a very sad video about how much self worth he put into being a provider and great dad and he now was neither and he needs to love himself anyway.

I mean i understand its not never work again money, but it just feels odd giving that much money to someone with $2-3M in assets. The condo for example was bought for $1.9M, so they have at least $2M in equity, unless they refi for cash to pay medical treatments.


Did he really plough theough $3-$4M in treatment costs over the last few years? i wonder if they were scammed, it would be terrifying to leave your young family like this and susceptible to being taken advantage

Oh would you shut up already?

NP I understand what the PPP is saying, but I would never say it myself. My DH had a long illness similar to James and when he finally took his last breath, it never dawned on me to open a GFM asking friends, family, and strangers for money. It's begging and we did not and do not have nearly as much in real estate as the Vanderbeers. People are posting that he has two separate properties worth over three million each. If he did not have life insurance, he failed to properly provide for his family in his absence. I always say, my DH financially took care of his family in both life and death. I would donate to someone without resources, but I am sure I am in the minority because I would never donate to a GFM like this. Perception is everything and it looks like a money grab.

Probably because you know your circle is as hateful and stingy as you are or as poor. But. that's a personal problem.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m finding myself so upset by the comments here judging the family for putting out a go fund me. They must be in dire straights to have to do that. His wife is a widow with six young kids to raise alone. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

JVDB seemed like a kind person and a good soul. I wouldn’t wish his pain upon anybody - his illness or the pain he must have felt knowing he was leaving behind a big family and spending their savings in an attempt to save his life. I don’t understand how people can be so heartless.

Don’t they live on a multi-million dollar ranch?

If she sold and downsized to a normal home they probably come out ahead; I think its a hobby farm not an actual source of income?

He also has a $4M penthouse in BH as a rental?

Or did they sell it all for treatment — do they not have health insurance?

https://www.realestate.com.au/news/james-van-der-beeks-42m-fortune-secret-texas-ranch-revealed/?campaignType=external&campaignChannel=syndication&campaignName=ncacont&campaignContent=&campaignSource=gold_coast_bulletin&campaignPlacement=spa

$4M is not a whole lot of money. I’m sure there is a mortgage on it. They are reporting he spent down his fortune trying to save his life.

No, insurance doesn’t cover all treatments of your stay close to a treatment facility. My uncle lives in Jackson hole and he had to rent a house near his treatment.

He put out a very sad video about how much self worth he put into being a provider and great dad and he now was neither and he needs to love himself anyway.

I mean i understand its not never work again money, but it just feels odd giving that much money to someone with $2-3M in assets. The condo for example was bought for $1.9M, so they have at least $2M in equity, unless they refi for cash to pay medical treatments.


Did he really plough theough $3-$4M in treatment costs over the last few years? i wonder if they were scammed, it would be terrifying to leave your young family like this and susceptible to being taken advantage

Oh would you shut up already?

NP I understand what the PPP is saying, but I would never say it myself. My DH had a long illness similar to James and when he finally took his last breath, it never dawned on me to open a GFM asking friends, family, and strangers for money. It's begging and we did not and do not have nearly as much in real estate as the Vanderbeers. People are posting that he has two separate properties worth over three million each. If he did not have life insurance, he failed to properly provide for his family in his absence. I always say, my DH financially took care of his family in both life and death. I would donate to someone without resources, but I am sure I am in the minority because I would never donate to a GFM like this. Perception is everything and it looks like a money grab.

This is a crabs in a bucket mentality. Good for you (I guess) for being too proud to ask for help, or too perfect to need help.

It doesn’t actually mean you’re a better person.

No one is forcing anyone to donate to this grieving family. Why don’t you just move on?

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m finding myself so upset by the comments here judging the family for putting out a go fund me. They must be in dire straights to have to do that. His wife is a widow with six young kids to raise alone. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

JVDB seemed like a kind person and a good soul. I wouldn’t wish his pain upon anybody - his illness or the pain he must have felt knowing he was leaving behind a big family and spending their savings in an attempt to save his life. I don’t understand how people can be so heartless.

Don’t they live on a multi-million dollar ranch?

If she sold and downsized to a normal home they probably come out ahead; I think its a hobby farm not an actual source of income?

He also has a $4M penthouse in BH as a rental?

Or did they sell it all for treatment — do they not have health insurance?

https://www.realestate.com.au/news/james-van-der-beeks-42m-fortune-secret-texas-ranch-revealed/?campaignType=external&campaignChannel=syndication&campaignName=ncacont&campaignContent=&campaignSource=gold_coast_bulletin&campaignPlacement=spa

$4M is not a whole lot of money. I’m sure there is a mortgage on it. They are reporting he spent down his fortune trying to save his life.

No, insurance doesn’t cover all treatments of your stay close to a treatment facility. My uncle lives in Jackson hole and he had to rent a house near his treatment.

He put out a very sad video about how much self worth he put into being a provider and great dad and he now was neither and he needs to love himself anyway.

I mean i understand its not never work again money, but it just feels odd giving that much money to someone with $2-3M in assets. The condo for example was bought for $1.9M, so they have at least $2M in equity, unless they refi for cash to pay medical treatments.


Did he really plough theough $3-$4M in treatment costs over the last few years? i wonder if they were scammed, it would be terrifying to leave your young family like this and susceptible to being taken advantage

His wife's earnings potential is not great and she has 6 young children to care for. $2 million invested reasonably conservatively will generate about $40k-$50k per year. How far do you think that goes for a family of 7? If she chips away at the principle, she probably doesn't have enough to send them to college. And then she's entering late middle age with no retirement savings.

This thread is full of very dim people.

They go to college free with that many kids and low income. Just saying. And what makes you think they all want college. Did James attend, or mom?