Daughter of fallen Tampa detective gets on liver transplant list

TAMPA — The daughter of fallen police Detective Randy Bell is closer to life-saving surgery. Demetra Bell Jones' name was added this week to a liver transplant list at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, her family says.

Hundreds of donors, most of whom never met her, helped get her there by giving $79,839 toward her medical bill.

"It is overwhelming and heartfelt," said her uncle, Jeff Bell, expressing gratitude to the Tampa Bay area. "I know my brother would be so proud."

Mayo Clinic softened on a prepayment demand and its charity arm agreed to offset half of Jones' out-of-pocket costs, which could lower her copay on the $314,000 surgery to $89,750, family said.

Fund-raising efforts continue because Jones, 39, will require extensive post-surgical care and costly drugs for life.

Donors may send checks payable to "Demetra Bell Jones Trust" to the Bank of Tampa, P.O. Box One, Tampa, FL 33601.