SGT. BELL'S WIRT VISIT IS DELAYED - Surgery Scheduled In Dallas

(07/31/2003)
Sgt. David Bell will not be returning to Wirt County this week, according to a family spokesperson. Bell, who was seriously injured in a training accident in California, was scheduled to come home to Newark for a visit.

The reception for Friday evening has been canceled.

Bell has been undergoing medical evaluation in Dallas. It was discovered he has a spinal fluid problem, and he will be having surgery there next Tuesday. The spokesperson said "The good news is instead of five or six surgeries, they will try to do most of the repairs in this one surgery. Prayers are needed." His parents, Betsy and Ernie Bell, will be flying to Dallas to be with him.