Darrell's Medical Relief Fund

My name is Darrell. I am 42 years old as of my last birthday in February. I am a father, a son,and an Audio Production student at Full Sail University. I know this is going to come as a shock to some of my family and friends. I have been very quiet about this, but not necessarily on purpose.
Near the end of January 2018, I was not quite feeling myself, and I found my way to the Emergency Room. I was slow to do it, mainly because i had just recently started a new job just two days before, and I was in training. The doctor came out, after a CAT scan chest x-ray, and he said not only was I suffering from pneumonia, but they also saw a mass in the middle of my chest. They were (and are) not sure if the mass was benign or malignant, so I had the first of one biopsies done. After saying they believed that the mass was a Thymus gland, which normally shrinks around age 19, the doctors were still not sure. So I had another surgeon to cut a 13 inch incision across my chest to get a bigger piece of the mass for a more clear diagnosis. Another surgery down, second chest tube in for training, and after being termed from my job for being in the hospital, I completed my second week in the hospital.  As best I can describe this mass is wrapped around my superior vena cava, my bronchus, and my pulmonary artery. It has caused minor blood vessels to act as veins and they protrude out of my chest. Also I am left with only one functioning lung right now. A long way from where I thought my health was at at the turn of the new year.

I was able to take care of everything financially previous to this! It has caused me to drop out of school to focus on my health. After discharge I come home and started with follow up appointments. All of the doctors noted how rare my particular case is and how dangerous it is for my health. They told me how it looks and what the option were. We were looking at another surgery and even that changed. My Thoracic surgeon stated he believes the mass to be inoperable due to the location and the major veins and arteries involved. As I was looking to get a second opinion, I was again met with the same discussion. To add to that, the doctors were still not 100% on the diagnosis. So now we( my family and I) begin another process to find out exactly what this is. It has been a month since my discharge and almost two months since I lost my job. My family is not rich in finances, but they have helped tremendously.  However with this issue far from over, It has become crystal clear that working regularly is now out of the picture. I am not making this campaign because I am too lazy to work. In fact I am making several attempts at alternative income production aside from the music business. In my efforts thus far, I am not able to claim temporary disability, I have not received any unemployment, and I still have a $3700 deductible to pay to continue to get the care I need.

I would gladly prefer to make it on my own. However right now I cannot. I am asking for whatever is on your heart to donate financially. I am still looking for a way to market my passion, my music, and have that help out. If anyone reading this has been successful in writing, and producing tacks and can offer guidance, I will gladly accept it. I want to thank those of you that make a decision to help someone in need. As most adults are aware monthly bills do not stop for anything. That is essentially what this campaign is for. I want to try to keep a roof over my head during this period of unemployment.