Be part of #SamperStrong!

This is a Go Fund Me for our friend, Blake Samper, a 35-year-old in his last year of dental school battling one of the most aggressive types of testicular cancer, Mediastinal Choriocarcinoma with metastases.

The Hardest Four Months

Having always been very active, Blake noticed something was wrong when he felt tired every day. In June 2022, he started having mild chest pain while exercising and decided to go to the doctor. An x-ray of the chest showed multiple masses throughout the lungs, concerning for cancer. Before he was able to see an oncologist, he was rushed to the emergency room because his chest pain got worse; he had inflammation of the lining of his heart. Within 48 hours, he developed excessive fluid around his heart and was taken for an emergency procedure to have it drained. Subsequent testing confirmed what we feared the most: mediastinal choriocarcinoma with metastases to the lungs and brain.

Doctors placed a catheter in his arm to begin chemotherapy. Two days later, he developed a blood clot in his arm and was started on blood thinners. Two rounds into his chemotherapy regimen, he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke from the nature of his cancer and from being on blood thinners. Doctors started him on steroids to decrease the inflammation in his brain, which worked but also gave him insomnia. He slept so little for so long that he eventually suffered a seizure and had to get a tube down his throat to protect his airway. He recovered from the episode and finally completed his chemotherapy regimen without any other complications.

Beating It Once And for All

Before discharging Blake from the hospital, doctors delivered the good news: "you're cancer free!" Tumor markers were back to normal and the masses had shrunk significantly. Blake spent most of his initial days at home recovering from the aftermath of a rough four months. He was weak and had what most describe as a "chemo-brain," having difficulty with memory and concentration. Little by little, Blake regained his stamina and cognitive function. As soon as Blake felt better, he tried to put it all behind and live an everyday life: he went back to school, visited friends, went to concerts, saw expositions, and even got around to weightlifting (his favorite hobby). He made sure to make the most out of every day.

On his 2-month follow-up appointment, a few weeks before Christmas, an MRI of the brain showed two new lesions, Blake relapsed. He received radiation in San Antonio, Texas and then left for Indiana University Hospital to meet Dr. Lawrence Einhorn, the oncologist that cured Lance Armstrong of testicular cancer. Flying thousands of miles away from home was Blake's best chance at beating this horrible disease.

Medical tests in Indiana showed no signs of active cancer. The radiation took care of the recent new lesions and his tumor markers were normal. Nonetheless, Dr. Einhorn wanted him to undergo high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with a stem cell transplant. He explained that there may be small cancerous cells not big enough to show up on imaging or increase tumor markers. Dr. Einhorn said two rounds of HDC would ensure he beats cancer once and for all.

How Your Donations Will Help

Case managers have stressed the importance of not losing healthcare coverage during treatment. Although he has health insurance, his deductible reset at the start of the year. Funds raised will help avoid interruptions in his treatment. It will also help pay for medical care when he returns home: he will need monthly labs to monitor tumor markers, frequent imaging to assess new tumor growths, doctor visits, and any new prescriptions to treat the lingering side effects of HDC.

Dr. Einhorn says Blake will likely be even weaker at the end of HDC and it may take him anywhere from 3-6 months to get his strength and stamina back. This fundraiser will also help Blake with rent, utilities, and basic living expenses while he fully recovers.

Life After Cancer

Blake has been through a lot in just seven months. The physical and emotional trauma from this battle has taken a toll on him, but he's not giving up. Those who know him best know he still has countries to visit, trails to hike, teeth to fix, plants to buy, buildings to sketch, and smiles to give. This fundraiser aims to help him get through these difficult times, make it easier to finish his final year of dental school, and finally live the life he's worked so hard for.

We are #SamperStrong!