Help Derek fight his battle with Cancer.

Hello my name is Tammy I am Derek’s aunt and I am starting a GoFundMe for my nephew, Derek Mills and his family❤️

Derek, as many of you know is currently fighting head and neck cancer stage 4A. Test have shown that it is in his bloodstream and lymph nodes.

Derek is in the fight for his life against cancer.

Let’s talk a little bit about who Derek is.

Derek is a husband a father a son grandson grandfather, nephew, cousin, brother, he holds many titles. He is also a brother in Christ and a lifelong friend to many.

Derek has touched many lives in his community, always giving a helping hand and coming to the rescue to help others in their time of need, whether in prayer or simply helping with a project he always shows up.

If I had to describe Derek, I would use the word strength for all the many challenges he has overcome. Next would be resilience, no matter what comes his way he faces it head on. Then I would say compassion, compassion for everyone he comes across, always reaching out with a helping hand, and listening, with out judgement.

Along with his wife Cherie, they have opened their hearts and home to many to give support spiritual healing and guidance always trying to be a better version of themselves.

This recent diagnosis has not been easy on them, especially with the losses, they have suffered in the months before.

He recently lost his father, then

the family tragically lost Derek‘s uncle then following that loss the unimaginable happened the loss of his brother Michael.

This unimaginable loss took a toll on him and his family and then to be diagnosed with cancer.

Derek’s diagnosis came along on 8/27/2025.

We were all stunned by the news now he and his family had to prepare for what was to follow. Test biopsies appointments, scans the anxiety, the stress, the unknown, scrambling dealing with work insurance doctors you name it and it has been thrown at them and none of it has been easy. Derek has started treatment. His round of chemo’s are so intense 90 hours at a time continuously Radiation several times a week which the burns have become so bad that he had to pause. The pain that comes with treatment you just can’t explain. Derek said it best. It hurts to be sad, to not be able to cry or show emotions. The pain that treatment is causing is heartbreaking along with radiation and chemo. Derek is doing immunotherapies treatments also.

Just recently, I have seen the effects of chemo and radiation and he is just at the start. The pain and nausea are taking its toll. I myself still still see the fight in him, which shows the true warrior that he is.

We are hoping with all the changes in his pain medicines that he might finally be ahead of his pain to start radiation treatment again. The burns are so intense. I could only imagine what the inside of his throat looks like.

Radiation has been tough from the burns blisters, not being able to ingest anything by mouth only by his stomach tube. Nurses and his wife are administering fluids and supplements to help him maintain weight and nutrient’s he’s pretty much, lost his voice and ability to speak freely, something we all might take for granted. Derek has a whiteboard he can use to communicate when needed. He has lost a total of 21lbs so far.

Let’s talk about his family

Derek has a blended family with Cherie.

They have some adult children and they still have two at home.

Elijah is Derek’s oldest, eight years old. Elijah was diagnosed with autism IGA immune deficiency and cannot fight infections properly gluten intolerant his care involves occupational therapy and speech therapy weekly along with chiropractic and other specialist every three months he is such an amazing kiddo so smart if you ever see Derek on a mower, you probably seen Elijah. They always work as a team. Dad‘s little helper.

Then you have, baby Jonah what a blessing Jonah is. He was in the Nicu for quite a while after his birth. Jonah was diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome, hernia, torticollitis lip, cheek, tongue, ties which makes feeding and sleeping difficult. He also sees a chiropractor once a week along with occupational therapy two times a month.

So you can imagine the stress that puts on Derek and Cherie.

Derek and Cherie put a lot of the stress in the hands of the Lord, Troy Christian Church has had a huge impact during this journey so far helping to strengthen their faith and standing by them through it all the church family & there family is everything to them.

As a friend of mine once said when she was making my GoFundMe and I would like to share “in a perfect world, cancer treatment would be free wait scratch that in a perfect world there would be no cancer, sadly we don’t live in a perfect world”

For Derek and Cherie, and those two children this diagnosis along with the recent tragedies has made living every day life stressful to say the least the worries of rent food insurance medical monthly bills. It’s just another stress that I hope I can ease by starting this GoFundMe.

Present life

The struggles continue along with the worries and the unknown. They want Derek to continue these intense treatments and do a scan in a couple of months to see where he is at. This is going to be a long journey and an expensive one.

I’m hoping to take some of the worries and the financial burden and the fear of not being able to provide for his family and ease his mind.

I’m asking you if you can help in anyway the funds donated will assist Derek and his family cover. medical cost monthly bills that are continuing to grow medicines and everyday life , donations are appreciated. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough, but hopefully one day you could receive a hug or a thank you or even your lawn mowed once he is healed and starts his business back up again.

So thank you all so much and let’s uplift and pray for this beautiful family.

Much love XOXO