Support for Daniel & Family Cancer Journey

My dear husband, Daniel Manichello, was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer seven years ago. He has been a fighter all these years. Now, I am asking for support to help him, and our family continue this journey.

While all cancer stories are personal and poignant, I preface this by saying that ours is no more unique than anyone else who has been touched by this disease. I extend my hope and prayers to everyone embarking upon life’s challenges and encourage them to stay strong and faithful.

As for us, we are at a critical moment. Daniel’s oncologists are no longer treating him because he has progressed through all available cancer therapies. Since his diagnosis in 2016, he has undergone chemotherapy, surgeries, radiation, and immunotherapy. These treatments have kept the cancer relatively ‘in check’ though he has not yet achieved remission. In that time, we have always moved forward, strived ahead, and continued to live life.

A year ago, Daniel started to decline. His overall health, energy and strength weakened. In the past few months, the steady decline became a rapid acceleration. The cancer metastasis is in his lungs, liver, and bone and he has debilitating pain most of the time. After an unsuccessful clinical trial at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and a transition to palliative care, Daniel is pursuing novel and advanced treatment abroad in Germany. This includes transpulmonary chemoembolization (TPCE) of pulmonary metastasis, transarterial chemoembolization of liver metastasis (TACE), High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound of bone metastasis (HIFU) and dendritic cells vaccination (DCV). The decision to pursue these treatments was easy because ‘we have nothing to lose.’ The German doctors believe there is an opportunity to stabilize and reduce the tumors.

In the past months, we have been grounded in our faith and our love for each other and deeply supported by loving family and friends. Our one-year-old son, Domenico, brings us joy.

I’m asking for financial support to help Daniel, Domenico, and I in the immediate future while he is under treatment and on a medical leave from his work. The key areas for support include:

• Travel expenses for our flights and accommodations in Frankfurt, Germany plus other travel expenses (food, local transportation)

• Household expenses (to offset mortgage and utilities)

• Integrative and alternative medicine to be pursued potentially after the classical treatments in Germany to help Daniel recover plus specialized supplements, vitamins and holistic care (e.g., Reiki)

• General out-of-pocket medical costs not covered by insurance such as oxygen machine, wheelchair rental and prescription co-pays

I’ve done my best to realistically account for and project our current financial needs and want to say thank you to everyone who has already been so thoughtful and generous…with your time, energy, care, gifts, and monetary support. I am forever grateful, and it has made this experience that much easier.

Thank you.

Felicia