Hello, this page is to help raise funds for Big Chief Darryl Montana.

Darryl has been diagnosed with inoperable metastatic lung cancer. It is also not suitable for radiation. The cancer spread from his left lung to his 5th rib and lymph nodes. This means that he is being treated with a chemotherapy/immunotherapy combination followed by ongoing immunotherapy via portacath. He also has CLL, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. That is a different, slower-growing cancer that affects the blood-forming tissues such as bone marrow.

Darryl Montana, or Big Chief Darryl of the Yellow Pocahontas Hunters is a 51 year masking Black Indian in New Orleans. He follows in the footsteps of his Father, Allison "Tootie" Montana. He has taught the masking history and art to over 3,000 kids and hundreds of older adults through community and school programs. He has been honored by several organizations and has exhibited his work around the world. At this time he is having to battle ongoing health issues that began 2 years ago.

Darryl began having chest pain. Doctors put him off until in October of 2024 when the pain worsened and would not let up. Bloodwork did come back showing a high number of lymphocytes. He was diagnosed with CLL, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Finally, in Feb 2025, when he saw the oncologist for CLL again, after c/o severe chest pain, she decided to order a chest CT scan.

It showed a mass on his lung and a lesion on his rib with enlarged lymph nodes. The rib was so fragile from the cancer that it broke.

A friend referred Darryl to a great, actually legendary oncologist. She started his treatment immediately in March following a biopsy.

Currently, Darryl is in the immunotherapy phase of treatment, which has shown signs of success! We are hopeful.

Through the pain, treatments, office visits, etc., Darryl has incurred medical bills and other expenses. He seeks relief from the neuropathy, fatigue, itching, nausea, dizziness from his infusions. For these, he has a holistic healer who offers help with pain and other symptoms.

He is unable to accept much work and needs caregiving.

Your support during this healthcare fight would be greatly appreciated. Darryl has good and not-so-good days, but he remains hopeful.

Please consider blessing his journey any way you can.

This page has been organized by Dianne Honoré Montana, his advocate and caregiver.