Help Stuart Land Fight Back Cancer

My name is Ted Mills. I live in Santa Cruz, California and write content for a San Francisco art gallery.  This is my first GoFundMe page, but I feel the need to do something for my friend Stuart Land. He currently lives in Thailand and is in need of help.  I've known Stuart for 25 years and have in that time grown in appreciation of his work ethic, talent, and character. He has, for example always followed through on what he promises to do. If he promises to pay a debt back, he does. I'm not privy to all the reasons Stuart's finances are where they are, but I do know he has often put the needs of others ahead of his own and that he has been a very hard-working creative guy.  Help if you can and it's in your heart to do so.  What follows is Stuart's explanation of the situation in his words: 

Creative Stuart has gone and done it again. I’m caught in a contagion that isn’t Covid-19. Less than 1% of people who catch this form of the dastardly deed, especially since I don’t smoke, drink, or do any drugs. I have stage 3 throat cancer, which I just found out the results a few days ago. This means for right now it’s only in my throat. It hasn’t spread anywhere else yet.

I’m a sculptor, a writer, and a few other artistic things. I’ve worked on many Hollywood films, and even Chinese movies. I do fine arts sculpting, and I’ve written 9 novels and 20 screenplays. (stuartland.com)


In January, I was on my way to LA to retrieve my master sculptures and bring them back to Chiang Mai, Thailand, where I live. The week I was to leave, I found a lump in my throat. It was also the week Covid-19 arrived in the US. It took a month of tests to show it might be cancer. Another month of seeing ENT doctors and more tests for the final results. Because of the time it took, I can’t get Medicare because of Covid-19 restrictions. The Thais have closed the border, and so has America. Even if I could get there now, it would take too long for my treatment.

Why am I in this state without proper resources? Eight years ago, I needed two valves replaced in my heart from a hereditary condition. I needed help then because the expense was so high. Some people lent me money, and soon afterward, I had paid most everyone back. 

Three years ago, I had a stroke from being taken off heart medication. I paid for that with the money I made working on Chinese movies. It took over two years to get back to normal since I couldn’t even talk. Even with all that, I wrote several screenplays, a couple of novels, and produced and directed a Thai movie trailer (Nightkillmovie.com). I used up my money doing those things. After months of planning, the Thai movie companies, who wanted to fund the whole movie, backed out. 


All that left me in this dire position. However, this is what happened:

Because of the Covid-19 problem in Chiang Mai, the radiation lab was shut down until July. It was impossible to get chemo and radiation at the same time, which is the optimum way. They wanted to spread it over six months (which would have been bad.) The lead doctor, a renowned oncology professor called the radiation lab and convinced them to open it for me with their new advanced technology. This procedure may cause less side-effects. 

They wanted me to start right away, but I couldn’t. The treatment has to be paid in full. The complete treatment: chemo, radiation, and tests during and after, cost about $13,000. In America, it would be $140,000. 

I have $3000. 

To help pay the cost back, I have some sculpture projects coming. To make and receive payment for that work will take too long for my care. My Thai sculptor friend has a first-class factory that produces bronze and 3D printing. He will make all my sculptures.

Once I can afford to advertise, my books will sell. (I published the novel, "Until Love", in Dec.) I received major literary credit for my Frankenstein book ("Back from the Dead") when a literary journal wrote a 14-page chapter just on my book for the 200-year publication date for Mary Shelley’s book (1818-2018).

So now, to keep on creating, I need your help. Thank you for whatever you feel you can help with.

Much love,

Stuart