Team Daniel: Aid for the Cancer Journey
Donation protected
On July 10, 2020, my 18-year-old brother went to the local emergency room for severe back and side pain with some chest pressure too. He had been fighting this pain for a month and had seen several doctors for the pain. He was doing physical therapy, as well. He even got tested for COVID when he started coughing, We all thought it was a nerve type pain,
Upon the urging of my mother and myself, Daniel went to the local ER. Due to COVID restrictions, I waited outside while the medical staff ran tests. A little while Daniel called to let me know that the doctors had discover that he had some type of lymphoma cancer and that he had fluid on his lungs. He would need to be transferred to a larger hospital immediately to handle his care.
It quickly became apparent that Daniel's situation was very critical as the mass on his lungs was putting pressure on his pulmonary artery (causing an extremely high heart rate) and his left lower and middle lungs were filled with fluid and needed to be drained. A collaborative decision was made to transfer him to Duke University Hospital via ambulance transport.
Also on that night, my mother, Wendy Alley, who is a Registered Nurse, drove from her home in Maryland to be with Daniel at Duke. Due to COVID and his being immunocompromised, she was the only one that was able to be with him in the hospital.
As soon as she was able to arrive, they started the procedures, draining 2500ml off his left lung, which made it easier for him to breathe. During this, he was in so much pain they had to put him on a pain pump. That same day they took him down to cat scan and to biopsy the large mass.
The following day, they placed a chest tube and drained an additional 3500mls off his lung. During all of this, he was in a very critical state for a while and his heart rate didn't come below 120bpm. Once all of the results returned, it was confirmed that he had T-Cell lymphoblastic Lymphoma, a rare but very aggressive adolescent cancer.
Once the diagnosis was definitive, treatment began, and Daniel was started on very high doses of steroids and, within three days, he was off oxygen. The steroids are only part of the 29-day Induction Phase that was done inpatient at Duke. At day 30 his tumor at discharge was 2cm x 3cm. His original tumor was 10.4cm x 6.2cm x 12.2cm. A big change!
In addition to the other treatments and procedures, Daniel had a PICC line that was placed earlier on as he received his chemotherapy. It was removed before discharge, and a port-a-catheter was surgically put in. They were also kind to do it under anesthesia at the same time they did the last bone marrow biopsy and lumbar puncture before his discharged from Duke.
Daniel was discharged from Duke on August 17, 2020 after a six week stay.
He will be doing his outpatient chemotherapy at Johns Hopkins Pediatric Oncology in Baltimore, Maryland. His next phase of chemotherapy started on August 24, 2020 and will last for at least six months. These next six months are going to be a long journey for both he and my mother (who he is living with during this phase).
My mother is a single parent and has not been able to work during this time. As of today, she has exhausted her paid time off and is currently using unpaid Family Medical Leave. Unfortunately, because of Daniel's condition, his medical providers have said that he can not work or be left alone. At this time, she is Daniels's primary caregiver in Maryland and is the one who must transport him to and from treatment each week. She plans to return to work but, at this time, due to COVID and the recommendations of the his medical providers, is the only caregiver who can be with him.
Asking for aid is not something I do lightly. It is not something I am generally comfortable with, but it is necessary for this time of uncertainty for my youngest brother.
Anything you can contribute is appreciated and welcomed. We are thankful for all who stand as members of Team Daniel, and we are praying that he will not only continue to fight this but that he will see the cancer completely gone after the long journey reaches its completion.
#TeamDaniel
Upon the urging of my mother and myself, Daniel went to the local ER. Due to COVID restrictions, I waited outside while the medical staff ran tests. A little while Daniel called to let me know that the doctors had discover that he had some type of lymphoma cancer and that he had fluid on his lungs. He would need to be transferred to a larger hospital immediately to handle his care.
It quickly became apparent that Daniel's situation was very critical as the mass on his lungs was putting pressure on his pulmonary artery (causing an extremely high heart rate) and his left lower and middle lungs were filled with fluid and needed to be drained. A collaborative decision was made to transfer him to Duke University Hospital via ambulance transport.
Also on that night, my mother, Wendy Alley, who is a Registered Nurse, drove from her home in Maryland to be with Daniel at Duke. Due to COVID and his being immunocompromised, she was the only one that was able to be with him in the hospital.
As soon as she was able to arrive, they started the procedures, draining 2500ml off his left lung, which made it easier for him to breathe. During this, he was in so much pain they had to put him on a pain pump. That same day they took him down to cat scan and to biopsy the large mass.
The following day, they placed a chest tube and drained an additional 3500mls off his lung. During all of this, he was in a very critical state for a while and his heart rate didn't come below 120bpm. Once all of the results returned, it was confirmed that he had T-Cell lymphoblastic Lymphoma, a rare but very aggressive adolescent cancer.
Once the diagnosis was definitive, treatment began, and Daniel was started on very high doses of steroids and, within three days, he was off oxygen. The steroids are only part of the 29-day Induction Phase that was done inpatient at Duke. At day 30 his tumor at discharge was 2cm x 3cm. His original tumor was 10.4cm x 6.2cm x 12.2cm. A big change!
In addition to the other treatments and procedures, Daniel had a PICC line that was placed earlier on as he received his chemotherapy. It was removed before discharge, and a port-a-catheter was surgically put in. They were also kind to do it under anesthesia at the same time they did the last bone marrow biopsy and lumbar puncture before his discharged from Duke.
Daniel was discharged from Duke on August 17, 2020 after a six week stay.
He will be doing his outpatient chemotherapy at Johns Hopkins Pediatric Oncology in Baltimore, Maryland. His next phase of chemotherapy started on August 24, 2020 and will last for at least six months. These next six months are going to be a long journey for both he and my mother (who he is living with during this phase).
My mother is a single parent and has not been able to work during this time. As of today, she has exhausted her paid time off and is currently using unpaid Family Medical Leave. Unfortunately, because of Daniel's condition, his medical providers have said that he can not work or be left alone. At this time, she is Daniels's primary caregiver in Maryland and is the one who must transport him to and from treatment each week. She plans to return to work but, at this time, due to COVID and the recommendations of the his medical providers, is the only caregiver who can be with him.
Asking for aid is not something I do lightly. It is not something I am generally comfortable with, but it is necessary for this time of uncertainty for my youngest brother.
Anything you can contribute is appreciated and welcomed. We are thankful for all who stand as members of Team Daniel, and we are praying that he will not only continue to fight this but that he will see the cancer completely gone after the long journey reaches its completion.
#TeamDaniel
Fundraising team: Team Daniel (2)
Lawrence Powers
Organizer
Benson, NC
Wendy Alley
Team member
