David’s Wonderfund
Donation protected
4.3.25 colonoscopy and CT scan are clear. Will test adenocarcinoma CEA blood marker again first week of June.
At March 21st 3 month oncology surveillance return appointment, blood test revealed marker for most recent cancer is elevated. See latest update.
Have been staying out of LA as much as possible since the fires.
Recovering from surgery that reconnected my intestines on 11.8.24 by taking down the emergency ileostomy operation performed 7.18.24 that removed the rectal cancer successfully thus far. This was a second cancer completely different from previous 2020 and 2021 throat neck cancer go rounds…
3rd cancer diagnosis in 4 years:
Adenocarcinoma of the rectum Stage IIIc
T4 N1 M0 dMMR. 75% survival after 5 years from diagnosis.
1.31.24 :pelvic MRI results
Restaged to T3bN1…95% survival rate past 5 years
Curable.
The shamanic journey continues…
Started Chemotherapy with picc line Dec. 14th 2023 chemo cocktail oxilaplatin 5 infusions 3 weeks apart concurrently with capecitabine chemo pills,
14 days on, 7 days off.
Completed 5th infusion 3.28.24. Completed 28 radiation treatments 5.3.24
Pelvic MRI 7.10.24 showed lesion returned with 1cm x .8cm mass in nearest lymph node…
At the rate it had bounced back in the 6 weeks since completing chemo and radiation I wouldn’t have lived to Halloween 2024
Surgery removed lesion and all the surrounding fatty tissue with 19 lymph nodes and left me with a temporary ileostomy.
Pathology results following 7.18.24 surgery
Negative… meaning no sign of cancer and it looking like they got it all.
9.6.24 bloodwork and exams confirmed no signs of recurrence this far at either site.
Who said, ”…nuthin’ sharpens the mind like facing the very real threat of one’s own immanent death…”?
Goal:
1. Live
to enjoy learning how to fly powered paragliders/paramotors (ppgs)
2. to realize my dreams of paragliding to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket from Nobska Lighthouse from Woods Hole, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts ;
3. become a tandem pilot/instructor.
4. Love well
5. Enjoy/savor every moment, every breath.
6. Create and disseminate art that inspires the world to fulfill its highest potential…
HISTORY:
9.19.2019 first diagnosis: Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tonsil. Stage 2-3
2.13.2020 began treatment chemo/radiation
2 Infusions 400 mg total Cisplatin / 2600 rads
6.10.2020 declared cancer free
1.10.2021 2nd diagnosis: Squamous Cell In lymph node under right jawbone. Stage 2
4.1.2021 began treatment: chemotherapy
Keytruda, six 200 mg infusions three weeks apart; cancer free after first dose by 4.8.21.
NOW: continuing to recover and build back up my body from all the chemo, radiation, and surgeries of the past year of treatments.
11.16.23 3rd diagnosis:
Final pathology results:
cT4N1M0 pMMR Stage IIIC
Adenocarcinoma of the rectum
4 cm mass 15-20 cm into rectum,
1.3 cm mass in adjacent lymph node…
Curable.
Treatment options:
Recommended treatment: TNT
For rectal cancer:
chemotherapy/chemoradiation /surgery
chemotherapy = 5infusions of 200 mg over 16-we18 weeks of Oxaliplatin…concurrent with 3500 milligrams of per day of the Capecitabine pill…
Chemoradiation = chemo pill Capecitabine combined with 28 radiation treatments 1.8 units for a total of 45 or 4500 depending which system used…
Presently living out of my 2005 Dodge Sprinter. Current total monthly income: $1,334 disability from SSA, and $175 EBT/food stamps from L.A. County. Just enough to live out of a van, but not if there are any surprises.
Luckily Medicaid is covering all procedures/tests/ treatments/ and medications required thus far.
This GoFundMe is the original campaign launch in 2019 after the first cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) diagnosis.
The $16,004 raised up until 10.26.23, was primarily spent to meet the original goal after surviving the first cancer-go-round:
to purchase, insure, register, maintain, repair, and fuel both the original 2006 sprinter purchased 7.7.2020 for $5555 after an extensive 9 month search; and its necessary current 2005 replacement ($8888.88), after the 2006 sprinter died Christmas Eve 2022; and subsequently sold “as is” for $1111.11 on 2.1.2023…after personally transferring and reinstalling the passenger door, sliding side door, and back large picture window in the new-to-me 2005 sprinter… To date since oct 2023 we’ve collected about $11,000 … nearly all of which has gone into keeping me housed in this sprinter van when it suddenly, during the height of this latest medical crisis, required an engine rebuild, ($7000), replacing the alternator ($600), and all the brakes($1100) and turbo ($2,600)…
Gratitude for sharing this with anyone who can help. No contribution is too great or too small.
- Anything helps. Any donation will directly contribute to my continued existence by continuing to feed and keep my mobile artstudio, monastery, and recovery ward rolling through this challenging time.
D.A.English
On the road
4.27.25
Organizer
David Alexander English
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA