Support Dr. David's Battle for a Cure

Update:

February has been a hectic month as he completed chemo #7 last Wednesday and got results from updated imaging the week prior.

In cancer, you really learn to stockpile and lean on good news, no matter how small. These pieces become the stepping stones out of darkness and fear - and the energy source needed to keep moving forward. The days before updated imaging are tense and anxiety-provoking, and I find that these are the moments that controlling your brain becomes super important.

Updated imaging indicated a small reduction in size and no indication of metastasis. This was the second best answer to “it’s gone”, or “it’s dramatically shrunk”….

But, importantly, David’s cancer-related symptoms- back pain, shoulder pain, abdominal pain- have mainly resolved, and the oncologist was encouraged by all of this. She said it’s time to really start working on surgical consults. There are also lots of other options to pursue, even if the mass is stabilized.

Additionally, I returned to work (as a consultant) part-time.

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In early November, David was brought to the emergency room after not feeling well most of the week. He was initially discharged and told it was likely gastroenteritis. David and Morriah returned to the emergency room the next day as David became much sicker and was exhibiting a huge amount of abdominal pain. The emergency department conducted a CT scan that indicated a mass on his pancreas with substantial involvement in the vascular structures. He was admitted to the hospital in order to expedite the biopsy. By the next week, we had confirmation that David's mass was advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

The initial treatment for this is chemo and radiation. David began the 5-FU standard protocol Chemotherapy on November 14. He will be going for chemo every other week for the next 6 months in order to kill this disease. Our challenge now is to begin locating the best of the best for surgical removal - which we hope will be possible after the mass is significantly reduced in size from the chemotherapy and radiation. This surgeon is likely to be out of Mayo, Johns Hopkins, or MD Anderson - and will not be in the state of South Carolina. Travel will be needed for out of state doctor referrals which will soon begin. Because of the way the mass has encased the vessels of the pancreas, his case is not straightforward and will not include standard removal surgeries offered here. David will need the best of the best that we can find.

Although David has a private disability program, it won't start for another 90 days. Morriah is now on unpaid family medical leave in order to care for and be with David during his treatment and recovery. This means, in addition to increased financial demands, they do not have any active income for the next 12 weeks.

Right now, David's most important objectives are to make it through chemo, kick cancer's ass and to again enjoy life. The biggest assistance that anyone can provide during this challenging time is hope and financial support, so that David and Morriah can focus on conquering this disease.

This journey for David and Morriah has just started and they have a long road ahead of them. David's oncologist is hitting this mass hard and his first week of chemo was extremely rough.

Thank you to all the friends and family who have picked up prescriptions, dropped food off, or already donated in some way. Your words of hope and encouragement lift us up as we navigate the most difficult road of our lives so far.

Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts.

We will continue to post updates as we can.