Support Pops journey to BEAT Cancer!

My siblings and I want to share some news about our Pops, Lionel. On June 08, 2024 what he and Mom thought was going to be a quick trip to urgent care to check out a “hernia” turned out to be something else completely shocking, Pops has cancer. After multiple tests; ultrasound, CT, MRI scans, biopsy, etc., the results from pathology confirmed its cancer. A PET Scan identified the primary source to be the small intestine; it’s Neuroendocrine Cancer with metastasis to Liver. Unfortunately, this type of cancer is unusual and due to the late detection; his cancer is stage IV. He was referred by an OC oncologist to a NET specialist at UCLA for a third opinion.

Pop’s treatments will be in Santa Monica @ UCLA. The plan is still uncertain as they are awaiting a second PET Scan for the possible detection of additional tumors. Most recently he was in the hospital for six days because he developed Anasarca (severe swelling), he was diagnosed with acute occlusive Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) in the internal jugular vein, subclavian vein and axillary veins. The hormone the carcinoid tumors release has caused damage to his Tricuspid Valve, now he must undergo open heart surgery. The surgery comes with a two-month recovery period at minimum, more unexpected news. UCLA is more than an hour away from Anaheim so our parents will be challenged with long drives, aftercare treatments and hotel expenses. His physicians are searching for the best course of treatment, and while the heart surgery is routine, everything else is not. Dad hasn’t worked a full week since his diagnosis. Basically, our parents have been going through hell these last few of months.

Our family is still in shock, and overwhelmed. We decided to create this GoFundMe to see if we can help ease some of the financial burden for Pops, as he begins his treatment to beat cancer! With your help, we would like to give him one less thing to worry about, because we don’t know what the cost will be we set the amount to $10,000. If you are able to help in any way, please donate and share this with your family and friends!

With love and gratitude,

The Diaz-Nieves siblings