Tacos to the rescue: Fundraiser has friends lining up & out the door
By Tom Peterson
This town has heart.
And some tasty tacos!
Last night’s taco-feed fundraiser for the McNeel family was a resounding success at St. Mary’s Academy in The Dalles.
More than 400 people showed up on Thursday, Sept. 29, to help support the family and college student Max McNeel who has suffered from lung collapse.
Supporters lined up out the door of the gymnasium a good part of the time.
“It was amazing,” said Wendy Palmer with St. Mary’s. “The first person was in line at 5:20 p.m. and there was a line literally the entire time. We served nonstop. We had two flour tortillas left at the end of the night.”
The fundraiser brought in more than $8,000 for the family which has been hard hit financially.
Palmer thanked Jorge and Lupe Barragan of Casa El Mirador who provided copious amounts of rice and beans.
Victor Johnson strapped on his guitar for entertainment.
“Victor was the last to eat,” Palmer said laughing. “He got guacamole.”
Max McNeel is a college student and employee at Columbia Cinemas has suffered from his lungs collapsing, and his parents Andrea and Chris have had to cut work hours to assist their son.
They are family to our friends and neighbors Alan and Bev Eagy, who are always doing for others whether it is coaching basketball, teaching science, cooking for people or donating their rental house to events like the Walldogs.
More on Max
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Max McNeel has suffered multiple lung collapses over the past year, beginning in July 2021. After a series of hospital stays and recurrent collapses, he was eligible for a procedure called pleurodesis, which would essentially “glue” the lungs in an expanded position to the pleural/lung cavity. Max’s left lung was operated on at OHSU in June 2022. However, only a few short months later, his lung collapsed again, and he was immediately taken back to OHSU on August 5th.
A second surgery to correct the original failure was performed on August 9th. Max bravely opted to have his right lung corrected at the same time. After nearly one month at OHSU, Max’s lungs remain under the close supervision of his doctors and parents as he transitions to recovery at home.
Click here to read more about the gofundme for the McNeel family.
