The longtime voice at LaCrosse Speedway’s Oktoberfest, Dan Deicher, could use your help. The 58-year-old announcer suffered a stroke on June 26 while on a Southwest flight to Florida. His insurance company is refusing to cover his much-needed rehab, so a GoFundMe has been set up.
“We were just getting ready to land,” Deicher said. “When jets land, the cabin pressure changes. Having A-fib, all the stars lined up the wrong way for me. I felt strange, and then I lost all ability to control my left side. I tried to scream for help, but nothing came out of my mouth.”
Fortunately, a passenger behind him noticed something was wrong. They flagged down a flight attendant who in turn summoned airport EMS officials. An ambulance transported Deicher to the hospital, where they immediately gave him a shot.
“The shot has to be administered within 3 hours, and it works on 7 out of`10 people,” Deicher said. “I wanted to wait for my wife to arrive, but there was no time. I told the doctors to go ahead with it.”
After nine days in the hospital, Deicher is now back home recovering.
“I’ve got my sight and luckily I still have my voice,” Deicher said. “My motor skills are not doing as well. I am slowly gaining strength back and hope to walk and drive a car again.”
Deicher’s insurance company has refused to pay for his rehab. Twice. In addition, he was given three new prescriptions, one which his insurance does not cover, either.
“I’ve been out of work for three weeks, and I need rehab and have to pay out of pocket,” Deicher, who’s day job sees him managing hotels in Maryland and Florida, said. “I’ve been on the other side of this so many times — raising money for charities at the track and at work. It feels really strange to me to be looking for financial help.”
Now’s time to return the favor. You can help Deicher by supporting the GoFundMe set up by Jenna Anderson. You may also send donations and well wishes to:
Dan Deicher
342 Trailorama Dr
North Port, FL 34287
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
