Help Darren fight cancer; now help with funeral costs

****update below****

Hi, my name is Natasha. I am Darren's cousin.

Allow me to provide some background on this fundraising page.

It was in the latter half of 2022 that Darren started experiencing slight back pain. Just before Christmas 2022 his back pain became more severe, waking him up at night and preventing him from sleeping. He tried to manage the pain, but it became excruciating.

So he visited the ER on January 1st, 2023.

The ER sent him home with painkillers and advised him to visit his MD. In pain, Darren visited his MD the following day and requested an MRI knowing something was not right. His MD was not overly concerned and ordered an x-ray rather than an MRI; her focus was on his diabetes. She sent him home with a prescription for diabetic medication and painkillers.

The next morning the pain was so searing and excruciating that Darren had no choice but to call the ambulance. Doctors in the ER performed an x-ray and noticed a severely inflamed pelvis along with a fractured hip (from an old injury). He was given medication for the pain and inflammation, with a request to his MD to complete an MRI.

Having lost confidence in his existing MD, Darren decided to visit another MD who ordered the MRI. The results of the MRI pointed to cancer. He shared the MRI report with me and I remembered reading it in dismay.

It was then his life changed!

Darren removed himself from his MD and onto Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After several weeks of testing, Darren was diagnosed on February 24th, 2023 with stage 4 prostate cancer with massive bone loss in his right lower back and a fractured hip.

Darren is currently going through the process of receiving treatment, having already received a course of radiation therapy and hormonal treatment. His doctors were very surprised with his body's positive reaction to the treatment thus far.

The doctors have now advised Darren to start chemotherapy, twice a month for 6 months. There is an exorbitantly high cost associated with chemotherapy and continued treatment for the next 6 months.

Darren continues to hold steadfast throughout this entire ordeal and remains positive, with the hope to be healed against low odds. He has been strong, he is high-spirited and wants everyone around him to be just as high-spirited and positive.

On behalf of Darren and the entire family, I am appealing to everyone to help raise funds to cover the high cost of his medical bills.

Thank you so much for helping and for sharing this appeal with others. We appreciate your help tremendously!

“I am an optimist. It doesn’t seem to be much use being anything else.” – Winston Churchill