Strike Out Cancer: D’Ante Starks ⚾️
Donation protected
We have met our goal for D’Ante’s first round of chemotherapy, extra donations will go towards the following two rounds of chemo. Money raised will go to medical out-of-pocket costs and fees associated with D’s chemotherapy treatments, starting May 16th. D will have to undergo three rounds of inpatient chemotherapy.
The D’Ante Starks Story...
Six months ago D’Ante Starks was a typical 15 year old: fun, loving, energetic and full of life. A sophomore and starting player with Forest High School varsity baseball team, in Ocala, Florida.
Jan 2018 the Starks’ family was stricken with the news of cancer, after Laura Handy (D’s mother) had taken him to the doctor with some concerns. Testing was complete, and a referral was sent to St. Pete’s Children’s Hospital where at that time they felt surgery was needed. The doctors were optimistic that after the surgery, they had removed all the cancer and the next step with his treatment would need labs and CT scans every 3 months.
Three months had past and all was getting back to normal. D was becoming his fun-loving self again; hanging with friends, going on dates with his girlfriend, and spending some much-needed quality time with his family. The past three months were looking promising, all blood work and checkups were all good.
April 2018, D’Ante had gone for his regular 3 month CT scan. The following day Laura received the news of an enlarged lymph node and D would need major surgery to remove the lymph node. On May 1st, D went through a five hour long grueling surgery where they ended up removing several lymph nodes. May 8th, the Starks’ received the news from pathology that the cancer had spread to several lymph nodes. Next week D will begin the first of three rounds of chemotherapy, starting the day after D’Ante turns 16 year old.
With this being said, D has a long fight ahead of him and will be on a long road to recovery. This recovery will be filled with a lot of ups and downs, but nothing he can’t overcome and conquer.
#D’AnteStrong
The D’Ante Starks Story...
Six months ago D’Ante Starks was a typical 15 year old: fun, loving, energetic and full of life. A sophomore and starting player with Forest High School varsity baseball team, in Ocala, Florida.
Jan 2018 the Starks’ family was stricken with the news of cancer, after Laura Handy (D’s mother) had taken him to the doctor with some concerns. Testing was complete, and a referral was sent to St. Pete’s Children’s Hospital where at that time they felt surgery was needed. The doctors were optimistic that after the surgery, they had removed all the cancer and the next step with his treatment would need labs and CT scans every 3 months.
Three months had past and all was getting back to normal. D was becoming his fun-loving self again; hanging with friends, going on dates with his girlfriend, and spending some much-needed quality time with his family. The past three months were looking promising, all blood work and checkups were all good.
April 2018, D’Ante had gone for his regular 3 month CT scan. The following day Laura received the news of an enlarged lymph node and D would need major surgery to remove the lymph node. On May 1st, D went through a five hour long grueling surgery where they ended up removing several lymph nodes. May 8th, the Starks’ received the news from pathology that the cancer had spread to several lymph nodes. Next week D will begin the first of three rounds of chemotherapy, starting the day after D’Ante turns 16 year old.
With this being said, D has a long fight ahead of him and will be on a long road to recovery. This recovery will be filled with a lot of ups and downs, but nothing he can’t overcome and conquer.
#D’AnteStrong
Organizer and beneficiary
Erica Watts
Organizer
Ocala, FL
Laura Handy
Beneficiary