My name is Tony Lee Clearwater, and for the last 14 months, I have been living a medical nightmare. I went from a healthy 185-pound father who spent every spare moment hiking with my 5-year-old daughter, Tia, to a "medical mystery" withering away on my couch.

I’ve lost nearly 40 pounds. I’ve visited countless emergency rooms, underwent invasive biopsies, and endured radioactive PET scans. I’ve been told "everything is fine" while my body tells me I’m dying. My doctors call me a "Zebra"—a case so rare they can’t find the stripes.

The Heartbreak

The physical pain is nothing compared to the emotional toll. Because of the constant midnight drives to the ER, I haven't slept in my own bed for over a year. A few months ago, while sitting on the couch, my daughter looked at my thinning frame and asked the question that shattered my soul:

“Daddy, are you going to die?”

How do you answer a 5-year-old when the best doctors in Los Angeles can’t give you a diagnosis?

The Broken System

I have fought every step of the way. I was the one who diagnosed my own H. Pylori and SIBO when doctors dismissed me. I was the one who pushed for the scans that found a mass in my intestine and elevated cancer markers. But despite having "great" private insurance, the system is failing. I’ve been rejected by the Mayo Clinic four times. My business is struggling, my savings are depleted, and the specialists I see won’t communicate with each other.

The Last Hope: Beijing

I have one option left. Many doctors and nurses have whispered the same advice behind closed doors: Leave the country.

I need to get to the Beijing Peking Union Medical College Hospital. They have a stellar record for diagnosing "undiagnosed" diseases, but as a foreigner, they require $60,000–$70,000 in cash upfront for treatment, lodging, and medical bills.

I have swallowed my pride. I am fighting for my life, but more importantly, I am fighting to see my daughter grow up. I’ve even had to buy "repatriation insurance" just in case I don't make it back—a terrifying reality I have to face for my family’s sake.

How You Can Help

Every dollar goes into the TLC Ding Trust, named for my daughter, my wife, and myself. These funds will cover the life-saving diagnostic path in China and keep my family afloat while I fight for answers.

Please, help me answer my daughter's question with a "No." Help me get back to the father I used to be.

With love and gratitude,