Friends lend a hand

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Brian McDonough, left and Kevin Mikel work to frame a lower-tier deck at the home of Scott and Sue Campbell. Scott Campbell was diagnosed with a virulent strain of lung cancer and the project is designed to allow him to rest as he descends the stairs of his split level home (Shelley Nelson)

Talk about it

Scott Campbell was the kind of police officer even the “bad guys” could like.

The retired assistant police chief and Douglas County bailiff showed respect to everyone he met.

So when he was diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer growing in his lungs, five years after he beat cancer the first time, many in the community were asking how they could help, said longtime friend Julie Nelson, owner of Trends Salon.

While talking to high school friend Sue Campbell, Scott’s wife of 27 years, they started talking about the steep steps off a second story deck Scott would have to climb at the couple’s split-level home.

That conversation sparked an idea of how people can help, Nelson said.

“You can only send so much food to the house,” Nelson said.

So she called on another friend, Brian McDonough, to take the lead on reconstructing the deck on the Campbell family home.

“If it were somebody else, it would Scott would be doing something,” said McDonough, who worked with Scott on the police department from 1979 to 1998.

Friday, McDonough and friend Kevin Mikel worked in the rain to frame a lower deck that will allow Campbell to rest midway down the stairs, an effort that drew more friends throughout the day.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Scott Campbell, who didn’t learn about the project until two days before it started. “The network friendships you acquire over the years. This was such a shock … These some very good friends.”

Sue Campbell said she and Scott had talked about replacing the deck this year, but that was before he was diagnosed with cancer again in August.

“I was just surprised,” Sue Campbell said of the project taking place outside her home. “This is just so nice.”

She said the steep stairs were difficult for Scott to get down and the ability to rest on his way down will make things much easier for him.

“He just needs a break from the top to the bottom of the stairs,” McDonough said.

“We can’t do anything else for him,” Mikel said.

“Actually, I asked them not to do it, but they wouldn’t listen,” Scott said.

Nelson is collecting donations to help pay for materials. Those contributions can be dropped off or mailed to her at Trends Salon. She said checks should be made out to Sue Campbell.

The goal is to pay for the materials, which volunteers are getting at a discount from Campbell’s Lumber – no relation to the family.

“I’m having the checks come to me so Sue doesn’t have to have all these letters coming in right now,” Nelson said. “… I get one. It’s from a mother with a beautiful little note to Scott and Sue … about how she appreciated how good Scott was when he would bring him from the jail to the courthouse. That’s just amazing to me.”

Nelson said while that came as a surprise, it reflects the big heart and kindness Scott always shows everyone.

“That would be Scott Campbell, summing it up,” Nelson said.

Tags: good deeds, news, health, police, friends, superior, cancer