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My name is Edward Davila and I have cancer. At the beginning of March 2018, I woke up with pain on my left rib. I went to see my family practitioner who diagnosed it as muscular pain and prescribed pain medications. Since I also have diabetes, my physician though my symptoms were caused by a recent change of my diabetes
medications. Soon after, I saw my endocrinologist and the doctor ordered me to stop the diabetes medication to rule out as possible cause of the symptoms from the medicine. I went to my chiropractor and he was surprised to see persisting pain symptoms.
At work, my co-workers were telling me that I looked unusual. I lost my appetite, I had extreme fatigue and walked without coordination. On
April 12th in the afternoon, I was at my work and all of the sudden an excruciating pain took over me. On Monday April 16, the pain was unbearable. I was going to work and my wife did not let me go, instead taking me to the family doctor again. Since that day my life changed
dramatically. That day, the doctor knew I was in very bad shape as soon as he saw me and immediately sent me to the ER.
Once in the ER at the local hospital, they ran a battery of tests. Results came back. I had a 5 inches (yes, inches, not centimeters) mass covering my spleen and I was hospitalized. At the time, due to the mass being that big, I was sent to a second hospital to run different tests to include two different biopsies of the mass. At the second hospital, they also performed a bone marrow biopsy. The tests showed also that I had excessive fluid surrounding my left lung that prevented me from breathing normal. At this hospital the results for the first biopsy came back and the oncologist informed us that it was positive for Cancer as a High Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The oncologist determined that I should be transferred to a third hospital that had the capability for the best treatment considering that I was in between stages 3 and 4 and a very aggressive high grade form of the disease.
On April 23, I was transferred to the third hospital and the second biopsy results came back showing what the second oncologist informed us to be a Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. They ran other kind of tests to include a new CT scan that showed other lymphomas in the chest, abdomen and pelvis. My treatment started immediately, they
drained the external fluid from my left lung and on April 26, I started the chemotherapy every 12 hours, my stay at the third hospital lasted 8 days. The oncologist established the path forward for my treatment as 6 cycles of 5 continuous days of chemotherapy in-patient at the hospital every three weeks. Between treatments, I have to go every week for blood tests; and immunotherapy the week prior and after every chemo. Since then, my health has been a roller coaster, but I am
determined to beat this cancer. I have the support of my family, friends, and coworkers. I am still working as much as possible. Some days are better than others. Medical costs are piling up, a cost that we couldn't prepare for. My work provides me with a health plan that has allowed
me to receive immediate treatment, however medical costs are excruciatingly high. There are so many medications, therapy, and doctor appointments; the co-pays are really taking a toll on my family. In my case, my health insurance will cover a portion of our medical bills, but the treatments are expensive and in addition are the out of the pocket expenses and travel expenses to get the treatment, it is really almost impossible to make it a real possibility. I would like to be able to enjoy a better quality of life and be there for my family. The doctor says that this kind of cancer is curable and treatable; and I know there is hope for me.
My wife and three children are very supportive. My wife always says that we have an Army of Friends and that is very true, without our extended family and network of friends our lives would be much harder. God always has provided for us and is our strength in this journey as He has been in past battles. We are asking for help. Whether it's prayer, reaching out, or helping offset costs associated with this diagnosis. We are thankful for any and all of the support we had already received and will receive from all of you. I would appreciate any help to make this treatment possible. I will keep you informed of every step taken on the way. There is no help too little, even if you cannot help monetarily, please help to share my cause with others by posting it on your social media and use the hashtag #helpEdfightLymphoma. Not only will you be aiding me to have hope, but also to get treatment.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. Please feel free to contact me at GoFundMe should you need additional information or if you have any questions.
God Bless You,
Vilma & Edward (Ed) Davila
#helpEdfightLymphoma
medications. Soon after, I saw my endocrinologist and the doctor ordered me to stop the diabetes medication to rule out as possible cause of the symptoms from the medicine. I went to my chiropractor and he was surprised to see persisting pain symptoms.
At work, my co-workers were telling me that I looked unusual. I lost my appetite, I had extreme fatigue and walked without coordination. On
April 12th in the afternoon, I was at my work and all of the sudden an excruciating pain took over me. On Monday April 16, the pain was unbearable. I was going to work and my wife did not let me go, instead taking me to the family doctor again. Since that day my life changed
dramatically. That day, the doctor knew I was in very bad shape as soon as he saw me and immediately sent me to the ER.
Once in the ER at the local hospital, they ran a battery of tests. Results came back. I had a 5 inches (yes, inches, not centimeters) mass covering my spleen and I was hospitalized. At the time, due to the mass being that big, I was sent to a second hospital to run different tests to include two different biopsies of the mass. At the second hospital, they also performed a bone marrow biopsy. The tests showed also that I had excessive fluid surrounding my left lung that prevented me from breathing normal. At this hospital the results for the first biopsy came back and the oncologist informed us that it was positive for Cancer as a High Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The oncologist determined that I should be transferred to a third hospital that had the capability for the best treatment considering that I was in between stages 3 and 4 and a very aggressive high grade form of the disease.
On April 23, I was transferred to the third hospital and the second biopsy results came back showing what the second oncologist informed us to be a Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. They ran other kind of tests to include a new CT scan that showed other lymphomas in the chest, abdomen and pelvis. My treatment started immediately, they
drained the external fluid from my left lung and on April 26, I started the chemotherapy every 12 hours, my stay at the third hospital lasted 8 days. The oncologist established the path forward for my treatment as 6 cycles of 5 continuous days of chemotherapy in-patient at the hospital every three weeks. Between treatments, I have to go every week for blood tests; and immunotherapy the week prior and after every chemo. Since then, my health has been a roller coaster, but I am
determined to beat this cancer. I have the support of my family, friends, and coworkers. I am still working as much as possible. Some days are better than others. Medical costs are piling up, a cost that we couldn't prepare for. My work provides me with a health plan that has allowed
me to receive immediate treatment, however medical costs are excruciatingly high. There are so many medications, therapy, and doctor appointments; the co-pays are really taking a toll on my family. In my case, my health insurance will cover a portion of our medical bills, but the treatments are expensive and in addition are the out of the pocket expenses and travel expenses to get the treatment, it is really almost impossible to make it a real possibility. I would like to be able to enjoy a better quality of life and be there for my family. The doctor says that this kind of cancer is curable and treatable; and I know there is hope for me.
My wife and three children are very supportive. My wife always says that we have an Army of Friends and that is very true, without our extended family and network of friends our lives would be much harder. God always has provided for us and is our strength in this journey as He has been in past battles. We are asking for help. Whether it's prayer, reaching out, or helping offset costs associated with this diagnosis. We are thankful for any and all of the support we had already received and will receive from all of you. I would appreciate any help to make this treatment possible. I will keep you informed of every step taken on the way. There is no help too little, even if you cannot help monetarily, please help to share my cause with others by posting it on your social media and use the hashtag #helpEdfightLymphoma. Not only will you be aiding me to have hope, but also to get treatment.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. Please feel free to contact me at GoFundMe should you need additional information or if you have any questions.
God Bless You,
Vilma & Edward (Ed) Davila
#helpEdfightLymphoma
Organizer
Vilma Davila
Organizer
Hackettstown, NJ