Don Carter Swift

Renowned and well-respected Redondo Beach Surfer, Shaper, Master finish carpenter, Father, Doctor de Tablas, Frijolero, Friend and all around good guy: Anyone who knows Don knows that he is always positive and never had a bad word to say about anyone.  Don has surfed nearly EVERY day at his beloved Topaz Jetty for decades:  Seeing his truck parked and him sitting way outside waiting for the biggest set waves is as predictable as seeing the sun come up in the morning.  That was until several weeks ago, when Don began experiencing some low grade headaches.  At the same time, without knowing about the headaches, his friends recognized him to be slowing down a little bit.  Don would tell us that “…something is just off”.  What none of us knew at the time was that a malignant tumor was spreading through the right side of his brain, affecting his balance, general dexterity and was the cause of the headaches.  Ultimately, Don fell at his house, cutting his head, and was taken to the emergency room by a close friend.   After several blood and nuerological tests, he was given a CT Scan, which identified some unknown mass in the right side of his head, approximately 5 cm diameter, “… about the size of a golf ball” was the news.  Further medical consults and testing resulted in a more targeted MRI to further view and define the mass.  The MRI confirmed the presence of a mass (tumor) and further refined its shape and size, but the type of tumor remained unknown.  At that point, the mass was described to Don as, rather than a golf ball, more like the shape of a thick oatmeal cookie, so that it was round, but flat, instead of spherical (think of a bar of Sex Wax with thinned edges, but smaller).  Ultimately after more tests and even more-targeted MRIs, an exploratory surgery was scheduled to biopsy and hopefully remove the mass.  During the surgery a biopsy was done which identified the mass as malignant gleoblastoma, a very serious and aggressive (fast growing) type of brain cancer.  During the surgery, it was determined it would not be appropriate to conduct further removal and they closed him up with eight staples in a 1-1/2 inch long opening.

Don spent the better part of 2-1/2 weeks in both Torrance Memorial and Saint Mary’s Long Beach hospitals.  He made some friends in both hospitals and in a short period of time positively influenced many of the nurses and others who were there to support him.  In fact, all his doctors and nurses knew he had a brand new surfboard and wetsuit (neither which had been wet) waiting at home for him to get back into the water.  That is the type of guy Don always has been: In HIS time of need, distress and uncertainty, Don is inspiring those around him with his positive attitude and outlook on life, even on his new “Journey”. 

Don is back home now and is doing well, getting along well with help from his brother, friends and even a live-in caretaker.z  He still has some swelling in his feet from spending over two weeks in a hospital bed, but otherwise he is as positive as ever.   His balance is improved, he gets around well with or without his new cane and the headaches are gone, since he is on the proper medications to keep inflammation down.  He is slowly returning to his around-the-house routine, but will need additional time to “find out where this journey is taking me…”  “From brain surgery to parallel parking…”,  he told a friend while moving his truck for street sweeping since being out of the hospital.  That is Don.

Don will obviously have some considerable medical bills for the time he already spent in the hospital and there will be more in the coming months and years.  At this time, Don’s course of treatment will likely include targeted radiation and chemotherapy.  We are setting up this Go Fund Me page so that anyone who has been touched by Don’s presence can give a little back to the man who has given so much so selflessly to us all.  Please consider giving as much as you are able and passing on the word to anyone who you think would be affected by this news.  Don is facing this situation with dignity and his outlook is incredibly inspiring, even during these troubling times.  “…it’s only castles burning.’”, as Don likes to say about his new “Journey”.   Let’s keep the positive energy flowing by giving to this fund.  Don said he wants the people around him to “...to cover me in a mountain of good vibes”.  He said, ”I’m gonna take this all in and get myself covered in a big mountain of good vides…”.  If there is one person who has the positive attitude and power to face this situation, it is Don Swift.

Let’s cover him in mountains of good vibes AND money:  Go Fund Don.  Thanks. Written by John Siskowic