This is a story about a teacher, husband, father and friend. Carlos, a 43-year-old beloved 5th grade teacher at Capt. James Daly Elementary School was 36 years old in 2012 when his life was changed forever. This was the year of his first diagnosis of Diffused Large B Cell Lymphoma. He endured a total of 8 cycles of chemo and was not able to return that school year. His positive, fighting spirit led to being cancer free for almost 2 years.  Then the cancer returned. Carlos was ready to fight again with the same brilliant outlook and determined fight.   This time it was 4 cycles of treatment along with radioactive isotopes. Again he was cancer free but only for another 2 years. In February of 2018 during a routine scan, a spot was found on his lung. He had a lobectomy of the upper lobe in his left lung. This kept him out of work for roughly 3 months. During this time, he was also having immunotherapy done as part of his treatment. He was able to come back to finish the school year and send off his 5th grade class to middle school.  He taught summer school that summer and was excited to start a new school year. Everything was going well until December 2018/January 2019 when he started to experience some headaches and weakness on his left side. A scan showed he had a tumor on his brain that was the cause of the symptoms. It was determined that the lung cancer had metastasized to his brain. This had become yet another school year dealing with cancer. While no one could imagine all that this one man had endured, his incredible will to move forward with a positive outlook was truly beyond anyone’s comprehension. He set the example for all to follow and everyone stood behind him and this new fight.   He had brain surgery in January, directed radiation treatment soon after, and was back teaching his class in March. Unfortunately, less than 3 months later, in May, as the end of the school year celebrations were beginning, Carlos went for yet another routine scan. The results came back that there were 9 new lesions on his brain.  He is currently receiving whole brain radiation as the initial treatment while doctors decide the best course of action to take.

 

Carlos and his wife of 3 years, Darina, who is also a 5th grade teacher, will not be able to teach summer school. Carlos will be undergoing treatment and Darina will be caring for their toddler, Little Carlos who will be 2 in September.

 

 

This fund has been established for Carlos and his family to help alleviate the financial burden that his latest diagnosis has caused.