Last week Second Thoughts costar, Travis Potter, realized one of his most haunting fears when he contracted cerebral malaria while filming for a surf video in Papua New Guinea. Since appearing in Second Thoughts with Timmy Turner, Potter has developed quite a reputation for his feral tendencies and dedication to surf adventure. Unfortunately, the risks that often accompany such a lifestyle have begun to materialize.
"We were filming a movie called Isolated in Papua New Guinea just exploring, trying to find some new waves, and he got it some time on the trip and we had no idea," says friend and videogrpaher, Steve Volz. "We went back to Jakarta to surf Turtles, and when I came home he called me and told me he had cerebral Malaria"
If untreated cerebral malaria is almost certainly fatal. Symptoms include intense fever, hallucinations, coma, convulsions, aches, and general discomfort. Its causes aren’t entirely understood, but medical treatment vastly improves chances of survival.
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Luckily, Potter received medical care as quickly as possible, and is currently in somewhat stable condition.
"He's out of the hospital in Jakarta and he and his wife have flown to Bali to see a specialist," says Volz. "He still has malaria and is still hating life with the fever and pain, but I would say he’s getting better. He was really stoked to get to Bali and see a real doctor."
The friends and family of Travis Potter have not only raised awareness about his situation, but also taken action to aid him with the financial burden of his medical bill by organizing fundraisers, including one tonight in Huntington Beach.
“When I told him we were trying to raise money for his hospital bills, he was super stoked,” says Volz. “He sounds weak and really sick, but his hopes are up and he’s being treated.”
FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF POTTER HAVE ORGANIZED THE FOLLOWING MEANS OF HELPING HIS CAUSE:
WE ARE THROWING A PARTY TOMORROW NIGHT FOR TRAVIS IN HUNTINGTON BEACH
4/23/08-WEDNESDAY WILL BE AT THE BLACK BULL. THE PARTY WILL HAVE LIVE PERFORMANCES BY A.D.D PARTY STARTS AT 7PM
ALL PARTIES WILL HAVE RAFFLES AND DONATION BOXES.
THE REASON WE ARE RAISING MONEY FOR TRAVIS
Travis Potter contracted a potentially deadly strain of cerebral malaria while traveling through the Southeast Asian island chain last week.
The Seal Beach goofyfoot spent a hard month searching for undiscovered waves in Papua New Guinea with a half dozen other ferals, filming for an upcoming surf movie called Isolated.
Potter spent the following five days in a Jarkarta hospital, occasionally texting friends and family to them know he was OK. According to some reports, Travis' strain of malaria has a 20% mortality rate, which has people at home concerned;
"He sounded better last time we talked to him a couple days ago," explained his father Dave on Friday afternoon. "But the treatment he went through was awful. He lost all kinds of weight."
Weight wasn't the only thing Travis lost; the treatment was very expensive, and he's looking to make it to Bali to see a specialist. While he does have medical insurance, the deductibles are high, and he's going to need time to recover, so his HB friends are planning a fundraiser in Huntington this weekend.
Donations are also being accepted (info below).
VIA PAYPAL:
spiritwindranch@msn.com
VIA SNAIL MAIL:
Travis Potter Malaria Relief Fund
59512 Hop Patch Spring Road
Mountain Center CA 92561
Reader Comments
Posted Thu Apr24, 2008, 3:17 PM — By kahi
I hope he scored some good waves in PNG. Get better Travis.
Question: What do the feralites use to avoid getting bit by mosquitoes? Or do they just say f-it and hope they don't get bit? Im headed that way and would like to know.
Posted Thu Apr24, 2008, 3:28 PM — By Bill
Wow...i wish all of us could tap into a friends/family relief fund when our deductables hit us....all the more reason to vote this year and make sure our new president does something about our healthcare system...get better...be safe...respect nature
Posted Thu Apr24, 2008, 4:25 PM — By bato loco
In the indochina you get malaria, here in México you get "dengue" or "Tifoidea". it´s time to support our brother cabrones. Let the money flow because next time is one of us.
Posted Thu Apr24, 2008, 8:09 PM — By stu
let's see...donate to a guy who goes into malaria-ridden areas without health insurance or pick a cause that supports people who are stricken with illnes due to no fault of their own. Tough call, but I think I'll go with something other than subsidizing Travis's responsibility-free existence.
Posted Thu Apr24, 2008, 11:20 PM — By Hawaii 5-0
Thank you stu...i couldnt agree more...and showcasing barrel ride after barrel ride while asking for money...probably not the best idea...considering not far away on shore there are families who could use a little friends/family support as well....lets do more to help the locals and less to turn indonesia into the next hawaii, where locals have to resort to violence to keep outsiders from quietly taking over....
Posted Fri Apr25, 2008, 4:44 AM — By Hootski
Sounds like the proceeds from the film when finished should take care of the "actors".
I hope he recovers and finds some more nice waves, but like a boxer getting brain damage, malaria and feral surfing are just gonna happen to some of the surfers.
Posted Fri Apr25, 2008, 3:03 PM — By Laker Fan
Looks like the NBA is doing somthing to help out the Malaria cause in Africa...looks like theres a lot more people with the same problem....
http://www.nba.com/nba_cares/malaria_awareness_2008.html
Posted Sat Apr26, 2008, 12:47 AM — By sblb
FYI those who know Trav also know he didn't ask for money. He was laid up in a hospital fighting for his life while all of these articles and fundraisers were being organized. He has health insurance and the original articles have been updated. However, the treatment even with it is expensive and believe it or not surf movies don't rake in the do. He does it for a love of the ocean, the people he meets along the way to name only a few. Trav's friends and family have rallied together in support for a guy who would do nothing less for any of them. That is what is wonderful about the surf community. It is made up of unique people with a mutual respect and understanding of the lifestyle and one another. He is still a human being in a horrible situation regardless of your current views on healthcare.
Posted Sat Apr26, 2008, 4:25 AM — By travis
just wanted to say thanks to everyone that has helped out. Hanging in Bali at the moment on a dvd marathon, just about there on the physical recovery. The one thing I was never prepared for with the stories of malaria is the mental effects, so take extreme caution. Thanks to the boys that put on the fundraisers and all the support, my bills have about been covered so need to keep sending donations, but have a look at surfaid and donate to them.
cheers,
Travis
Posted Sat Apr26, 2008, 6:51 PM — By Ian
While I have empathy with Travis's illness, I agree with the other who suggest donating to locals and NGO's like surfaid that support people to do not have protection against these preventable diseases rather than support a western traveller who should have had had protection. Their are very effective and cheap (when compared to the cost of getting sick) preventable medicine's (ie larium/mefloquine) and any one who can afford to fly half way around the world to surf can afford the drugs. So I have no sympathy for Travis, I do have sympathy for those who are living in those ares and cannozt afford preventative medicine. Lets stop supporting stupidy, Malaria is preventable. Lets support that prevention.
Posted Tue May 6, 2008, 3:08 AM — By mick
i hope you a quick recovery and we will see you out there surfing soon.
Posted Tue Aug 5, 2008, 1:07 AM — By Twelvepack
I work for the man and I'll do what I want with my money (thank you). I'm donating to keep Travis surfing and to keep movies coming.
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