Donations Only Trickling In For Maimed Farm Worker

An Idaho trust fund set up to benefit a farm worker maimed in a Malta-area accident almost a year ago is only one-fifth of the way to its goal.

Javier Tellez Juarez’s Idaho benefactors hope to raise $200,000, but so far they have just $40,000 in the bank.

Wes Seideman, assistant vice president and senior trust officer for U.S. Bank, which is managing the account, said it has grown by $10,000 since July and donations are still trickling in.

“We haven’t given up,” Seideman said. “We’re going to work at it.”

Supporters hope to use the Dec. 13 anniversary of Tellez’s accident and the holiday season to draw attention to his case.

Tellez, 24, was dismembered by a tractor-powered post-hole digger that tore off both his arms at the shoulders and crushed a leg. He is still undergoing rehabilitation three times a week at University Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Hospital spokesman John Dwan said Tellez has an artificial leg and arm and is able to write letters and feed himself. He and his family live in a donated apartment.

Tellez has run up more than $750,000 in hospital bills, which are being paid by Idaho’s catastrophic health-care fund and Medicaid. But he is not a U.S. citizen and is ineligible for most government aid.

Seideman said U.S. Bank would retain control over the Idaho fund and write out checks for Tellez’ expenses instead of giving him control over the money. The idea is to build up a fund large enough to allow Tellez to live off the interest.