NOTE: There are several videos posted at the bottom of my page.

Hello everyone and thank you so much for checking out my gofundme page!

*New Information as of 3/9/2016:

I wanted to post an update to what has been going on lately. There has been a lot and there's some positive and negatives.

First, I had to check into the ER and was admitted into the hospital on Monday for some problems regarding my digestive/liquid processing my body was performing.

It looks like after many tests and other procedures that I do have acute kidney failure which isn't good. We are doing as much as we can to monitor and see what can help in the meantime. I have some new and extremely difficult challenges and devices I must learn to use everyday but am fighting to manage everything and feel comfortable.

We also decided that stopping my chemotherapy is the best thing as the results were minimal or even detrimental to my body. The plan is for me to be as comfortable as possible and am working with hospice now to make that happen.

The good news is...I'm back home from the hospital! This is a huge deal for me as the hospital was so uncomfortable and cold and now that I'm home I have all my favotire things near me and can enjoy things a little more.

My energy level and physical strength is very low too but that is another fchallenge to deal with daily.

I wish I had a lot of better news to share but this is a start. I apologize for any slow or no updates for a little since it's hard to type or talk, but will try to post more as needed.

Please keep positive and direct healing energy my way if you can!

Thank you all so much for being in my life and reading my updates; I hope to share more good news when things come up.


-------Main Information-------

First a little about who I am:

My name is Anthony K. Lee and I was born and raised in the S.F. Bay Area.  I was a classical pianist (B.A. and M.A. in music) and used to perform and compete both in the U.S. and abroad. After earning my Master's in Music, I took a year and then went back into a grad program and earned my Master's and Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology. I was working with children, adolescents, and families, conducting individual and group therapy, as well as assessments and reports.

Now a little about why I please need your help:

In 2011 I underwent an emergency complete colectomy (with ileostomy) which lasted 8+ hours and a 1.5 month hospital recovery stay due to complications.

During the surgery the doctor found several concerning things and the biopsies came back showing that I have Stage-4 Metastatic Colon Cancer (with a KRAS mutation which makes targetted treatments unable to effectively treat the tumors.

After my slow recovery I went on my first chemotherapy treatment regimen during the second half of that year. The treatment helped to lessen the tumors and gave me some more time to live, but at the end of 2014 there were signs that the cancer was back and growing/spreading.

I started back on a different chemotherapy
 regimen in July, 2015, and have been on it ever since with no end date (I am on it until its ineffective or my body is too damaged from the treatments).

I go in for treatments every Monday (with blood work and additional tests/appointments each week depending on how I am doing). After treatments I am usually completely nauseaus and miserable for 4-5 days which leaves me, at the most, two days where I am feeling somewhat alright.

Some reasons why I am asking for help now:

There are a few reasons why I decided to look into this site and make a profile.  Medical bills are astronomically expensive, and it has been financially devastating.  In the last 2-3 months my body has really been deteriorating and I have been running into other complications due to the tumors.  I'm 5'10.5" and my ideal weight most my life has been about 175-190lbs., but I am currently at 133lbs. and cannot eat too many things because the treatment and my physical complications (such as bad swelling of my abdomen, or "ascites").

The other reason I am asking for help now is that my medical bills have been ridiculously expensive (one of the horrible problems with healthcare in the U.S.) I am at the point where I am extremely low on funds for both medical and personal care, that it makes me worried. Up until this point I have been able to try and support my bills and expenses because my dad passed away from lung cancer (we were diagnosed and going through treatment around the same time).  He left me some money and that really is what has let me live and enjoy my family a little more.  I am also unable to work and have been unable to replenish any funds.

The money would be used for my medical bills (which include my monthly insurance, co-pays, treatments, labs, scans, and other procedure I am going through or will have). It will also be used to help pay for my living essentials such as food and esential supplies. I am hoping to have some comfort and not have to be in a constant state of panic reguarding money.

Thank you very much for taking your time to read about me and showing interest in my story. I am extremely greateful for any help I may receive, and will try to update as I can (as my health permits; I may have to have a family member make updates). I have many pictures of myself and experiences throughout my life, as well as how I have been doing lately. I also have several live recordings from when I used to perform piano as well I could try to share.

Again, thank you so much for the help, and please feel free to ask me any questions as well!

-Anthony

PS: I'm posting a few various pictures below of myself during good times and more recent times.

Videos:

1). From the Delta Omicron Gala performance at Santa Clara University (around the year 2000 if I remember correctly): 


2). From the 2003 tour in Japan with the SJYS Orchestra.  Recorded live on 7/4/2003 in Okayama:



3). 3 separate performances ages 8, 12, and 15 (more details on the youtube page):



Me and my rescue dog Daisy we adopteded from the SPCA; she has been loving a great to help me feel better and recover:



Several photos from my piano days:

Many years ago when I used to perform (this picture is from around 1997):



Performance with orchestra:



After my graduation ceremony for my Ph.D.:



Around 2013 with my rescue dog Daisy (she has helped me feel better and I love my dog very much):



I have additional pictures, video, recordings, etc. as well I can post if anyone is interested.
 
Thank you again for your interest and help!