We Love Dean Kingsbury Fund
Donation protected
5/18/19 Update: It is with great sadness to share that Dean passed away on 5/7/19. He was surrounded with love. After 5 rounds of chemo we learned that the tumors were growing. Continuing treatment was not viable. Our family thanks each of you for your prayers and generosity. This journey would have been impossible without your love and support. We will have a celebration of Dean’s life hopefully end of June down along the American River that he loved so much. We will try to get that out on social media once the date is firm. Please feel free to call me with any questions. Dana Kelly, sister. 916-847-6864
3/4/2019 Update: Hi All....Well, Dean has endured a couple more setbacks. Having made it through the infections and getting a new PIC Line inserted for Chemo, Dean had simply lost way too much weight. So, he had a PEJ feeding tube (major surgery) installed (in addition to the stent replaced again at UCSF as part of precautionary measures), and then onto a night time formula feed regimen in addition to whatever he could tolerate through regular eating. He was supposed to have Chemo Treatment #4 last Wednesday, 2/24/19, however, in the early morning he fell and broke his left hip. CRAP! Ambulance ride to Sutter General, 3 long screws inserted, then home again on Saturday, 3/2/19. Yet Dean still maintains his humor despite the pain and disappointments. It is not easy. Cindy is juggling lots of balls, the family is taking turns while she is in school or studying trying to fill gaps as needed. We are still working this out. Tomorrow should be Chemo #4. There is a silver lining! Dean has already gained over 10 pounds back and he is getting more mobile on his hip using a walker. That is encouraging. Smokey the Cat is happy to have him home again! We all are! Dana
1/24/2019 Update: Where to start? This will be the short version. Dean has had a few weeks in hell and in pain. Right before his 3rd Chemo round, Dean got sepsis (blood infection) and was hospitalized on 1/13/19 for 5 days in the ICU at Folsom Dignity, CA, before being ambulance transported back to UCSF Medical Center. It took that long to get a bed. He was admitted at midnight on Thursday, 1/17/19, and the stent in his biliary duct was replaced the next day. Then came a staph infection from the Chemo port which was then removed. Dean is on several IV antibiotics to treat both infections and so far the treatments are working and the edema (yep, that too!) is coming down slowly. We hope he can be released with a new port for ongoing IVs plus oral meds and return home to Carmichael this Saturday morning at the latest. Fever is gone now and once the infections are completely resolved, he can resume Chemo. Meanwhile, this Saturday, 1/26/19, at 8:00pm, there is a benefit for Dean by a local band who know him, Lane 5, hosted at The Clubhouse here in Carmichael. Come on over if you can! Dean hopes to attend (wearing a mask of course and with doctor approval). Prayers for Dean that this is possible because he is really looking forward to a change in scenery and that Chemo can restart soon with good results. Thank you everyone for your ongoing support. He sees all your words of encouragement, so keep'm coming! Dean truly is amazing. He is NOT giving in and does his best to remain positive throughout these setbacks. Dana
1/3/2019 Update: Yesterday Dean did round 2 of Chemo here in Sacramento. Because the bilirubin count was still a bit high, his doctor opted for another 80% treatment. He came home yesterday attached to a small mobile pump that will be removed on Friday. As for the origin of the cancer itself.....still waiting. Meanwhile, pray that the tumors in the liver respond and start to shrink and that the side affects associated with treatment are at a minimum. To all of you, thank you for your ongoing support and love for my brother! Dana
12/26/18 Update: Dean finished 1st chemo round on Friday, 12/21/18, in San Francisco and came back home with Cindy to Sacramento the next day. So, the battle begins. He is looked well considering! We had our typical Christmas Eve family and friends celebration at our house (Kelly's) with lots of singing, presents, and food (and the Raiders won)! It was wonderful to have Dean there (he wore a mask!). We are still waiting on additional test/biopsy results to pinpoint the type of cancer. More to come. I hope you all had a blessed Christmas! Dana
12/19/18 Update: Dean's surgeon at UCSF installed a stent in the biliary duct yesterday evening during the endoscopy procedure. There is a possibility that Dean does not have pancreatic cancer, but rather biliary duct cancer. With the stent, hopefully the bilirubin can drain. He had a rough night. Cindy is providing us with regular updates. Thank you Cindy! Chemo starts today in San Francisco. Thank you for all the prayers!
12/18/18 Update: There's been a set back. Dean is now at UCSF undergoing additional tests. He went there Sunday late with Cindy and Lily. Because his bilirubin shot up, chemo cannot start until the cause of the blockage is determined and addressed. Dean is mighty yellow due to jaundice. He had a CT scan last night, awaiting the radiology report, and later today he will undergo another endoscopy (possibly ERCP). He has the best doctors circling the wagons. Dean continues with his sense of humor like only Dean can! Thank you to all! Dana Kelly
12/13/18 Update: Dean just now got out of surgery to have the port placed in order to begin chemo. The doctor was very pleased with how this big procedure went! On Monday he has an oncology consult at UCSF with Dr. Ko who is a colleague of Dean's Oncologist, Dr. Javeed, here in Sacramento. We should find out soon when the actual treatments will begin and of course, continue providing updates as we learn more. Again, we thank all of you for your ongoing support through GFM and for the many prayers, words of encouragement, and picture posts! Dean sees and reads all of them! Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Dana Kelly [phone redacted].
12/6/18 Update: Hi Everyone, Dean was officially diagnosed this morning with pancreatic cancer. He will start chemo immediately. Bill and I (Dana) want you all to know how overwhelmed he is with the support that has been pouring in from family and friends across the world, and from people who don't even know him! You are all amazing with your ongoing love and encouragement and gifts that will remove such a huge financial stressor for Dean as he fights this. I have shared with many that my brother never asks for anything....he only gives. We thank all of you. God bless you. Keep the faith and prayers flowing.
Dean has just been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer. We love him and want to do all we can to help. If you would like to support him, please donate. It's easy!
Updates will be posted as we learn more.
3/4/2019 Update: Hi All....Well, Dean has endured a couple more setbacks. Having made it through the infections and getting a new PIC Line inserted for Chemo, Dean had simply lost way too much weight. So, he had a PEJ feeding tube (major surgery) installed (in addition to the stent replaced again at UCSF as part of precautionary measures), and then onto a night time formula feed regimen in addition to whatever he could tolerate through regular eating. He was supposed to have Chemo Treatment #4 last Wednesday, 2/24/19, however, in the early morning he fell and broke his left hip. CRAP! Ambulance ride to Sutter General, 3 long screws inserted, then home again on Saturday, 3/2/19. Yet Dean still maintains his humor despite the pain and disappointments. It is not easy. Cindy is juggling lots of balls, the family is taking turns while she is in school or studying trying to fill gaps as needed. We are still working this out. Tomorrow should be Chemo #4. There is a silver lining! Dean has already gained over 10 pounds back and he is getting more mobile on his hip using a walker. That is encouraging. Smokey the Cat is happy to have him home again! We all are! Dana
1/24/2019 Update: Where to start? This will be the short version. Dean has had a few weeks in hell and in pain. Right before his 3rd Chemo round, Dean got sepsis (blood infection) and was hospitalized on 1/13/19 for 5 days in the ICU at Folsom Dignity, CA, before being ambulance transported back to UCSF Medical Center. It took that long to get a bed. He was admitted at midnight on Thursday, 1/17/19, and the stent in his biliary duct was replaced the next day. Then came a staph infection from the Chemo port which was then removed. Dean is on several IV antibiotics to treat both infections and so far the treatments are working and the edema (yep, that too!) is coming down slowly. We hope he can be released with a new port for ongoing IVs plus oral meds and return home to Carmichael this Saturday morning at the latest. Fever is gone now and once the infections are completely resolved, he can resume Chemo. Meanwhile, this Saturday, 1/26/19, at 8:00pm, there is a benefit for Dean by a local band who know him, Lane 5, hosted at The Clubhouse here in Carmichael. Come on over if you can! Dean hopes to attend (wearing a mask of course and with doctor approval). Prayers for Dean that this is possible because he is really looking forward to a change in scenery and that Chemo can restart soon with good results. Thank you everyone for your ongoing support. He sees all your words of encouragement, so keep'm coming! Dean truly is amazing. He is NOT giving in and does his best to remain positive throughout these setbacks. Dana
1/3/2019 Update: Yesterday Dean did round 2 of Chemo here in Sacramento. Because the bilirubin count was still a bit high, his doctor opted for another 80% treatment. He came home yesterday attached to a small mobile pump that will be removed on Friday. As for the origin of the cancer itself.....still waiting. Meanwhile, pray that the tumors in the liver respond and start to shrink and that the side affects associated with treatment are at a minimum. To all of you, thank you for your ongoing support and love for my brother! Dana
12/26/18 Update: Dean finished 1st chemo round on Friday, 12/21/18, in San Francisco and came back home with Cindy to Sacramento the next day. So, the battle begins. He is looked well considering! We had our typical Christmas Eve family and friends celebration at our house (Kelly's) with lots of singing, presents, and food (and the Raiders won)! It was wonderful to have Dean there (he wore a mask!). We are still waiting on additional test/biopsy results to pinpoint the type of cancer. More to come. I hope you all had a blessed Christmas! Dana
12/19/18 Update: Dean's surgeon at UCSF installed a stent in the biliary duct yesterday evening during the endoscopy procedure. There is a possibility that Dean does not have pancreatic cancer, but rather biliary duct cancer. With the stent, hopefully the bilirubin can drain. He had a rough night. Cindy is providing us with regular updates. Thank you Cindy! Chemo starts today in San Francisco. Thank you for all the prayers!
12/18/18 Update: There's been a set back. Dean is now at UCSF undergoing additional tests. He went there Sunday late with Cindy and Lily. Because his bilirubin shot up, chemo cannot start until the cause of the blockage is determined and addressed. Dean is mighty yellow due to jaundice. He had a CT scan last night, awaiting the radiology report, and later today he will undergo another endoscopy (possibly ERCP). He has the best doctors circling the wagons. Dean continues with his sense of humor like only Dean can! Thank you to all! Dana Kelly
12/13/18 Update: Dean just now got out of surgery to have the port placed in order to begin chemo. The doctor was very pleased with how this big procedure went! On Monday he has an oncology consult at UCSF with Dr. Ko who is a colleague of Dean's Oncologist, Dr. Javeed, here in Sacramento. We should find out soon when the actual treatments will begin and of course, continue providing updates as we learn more. Again, we thank all of you for your ongoing support through GFM and for the many prayers, words of encouragement, and picture posts! Dean sees and reads all of them! Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Dana Kelly [phone redacted].
12/6/18 Update: Hi Everyone, Dean was officially diagnosed this morning with pancreatic cancer. He will start chemo immediately. Bill and I (Dana) want you all to know how overwhelmed he is with the support that has been pouring in from family and friends across the world, and from people who don't even know him! You are all amazing with your ongoing love and encouragement and gifts that will remove such a huge financial stressor for Dean as he fights this. I have shared with many that my brother never asks for anything....he only gives. We thank all of you. God bless you. Keep the faith and prayers flowing.
Dean has just been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer. We love him and want to do all we can to help. If you would like to support him, please donate. It's easy!
Updates will be posted as we learn more.
Organizer and beneficiary
Bill Kelly
Organizer
Orangevale, CA
Dean Kingsbury
Beneficiary
