This is my dad, Danilo Carpio.

A couple of years ago, my dad was diagnosed with a rare condition called “acute systemic mastocytosis.”

To put it a bit more simply, the illness is described as a mutation of cells that started for him in the bone marrow and spread to his other organs including his liver and spleen.

These cells trigger inflammation amongst a whole slew of difficult symptoms that I don’t want to get too into.

Before the actual diagnosis he rapidly lost about thirty pounds over the span of a couple of months, as well as his ability to walk.

Basically, it’s like leukemia, but isn’t actually cancer. But he’s on chemotherapy to treat it.

Prior to chemo, he was declining pretty fast, needing regular emergency blood transfusions because the illness kept his blood levels low.

There was a moment of hope after he started treatment, as he hadn’t required any transfusions for the past few months— which is good.

However, recently he had to be admitted into a hospital for a UTI and hallucinations, likely caused by the infection.

His mind was pretty strong going into the treatment, now— not so much. He’s still there mentally, but, he’s so weak and tired all the time.

Normally, I would be more private about this kind of personal information, but…

I’m beginning to lose hope.

I don’t know what to do.

I may have to quit my job or take a sabbatical so I can fly back to California and take care of him and my mom.

It’s a bit embarassing, but I don’t know if I should start a gofundme or something.

I don’t know if I have enough reach or sway to campaign for the sake my dad’s health, as this illness has caused more than a little financial strain on my parents.

Not to mention the stress and anxiety my mom has had to face through all of this.

If left in his current state of care, I don’t know if he’ll be able to make it through his illness.

I humbly ask for your support during this troubling time.

If successful, these funds will go entirely towards his medical bills, and seeing to getting him the much more hands-on, individualized care he needs, as well as an in-house caretaker to help see to his full recovery.

Any and all support is greatly appreciated. It would mean the world to me. To us.

Thank you.