Dave's Go Fund Me

Our amazing friend Dave noticed a lump in his throat right about the time COVID was becoming more known. At this time, he was working as a nanny (or "manny" as he likes to call it) taking care of a baby.

Soon the world would be shut down due to the pandemic, and he was unable to continue working. Luckily, unemployment helped him get through the year, his Dr advised to isolate during Covid due to his heart failure but he always worried about that lump that continued to grow.

He saw his doctor about it, and they thought at first it was an infected lymph node. Three rounds of antibiotics proved that there was something else at hand. In February of this year, he began the process of having many tests and biopsies that would eventually lead to a diagnosis of HPV+ Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head & Neck.

He underwent a radical tonsillectomy and neck dissection surgery to remove the cancer and affected lymph nodes. They found the primary cancer in his tonsil but it had metastasized into his lymph nodes. Complications from this procedure brought him back to the Emergency Department where he had to have emergency surgery to stop a life threatening hemorrhage. He spent 5 days in the Intensive Care Unit.

He has since been released home, where he is healing. In the coming weeks, he will begin an intensive round of radiation. He is still unable to work, unemployment has stopped, and he doesn't qualify for disability. He needs some assistance to stay afloat while he heals and while he is receiving radiation treatment. He has two housemates who have been helping with household bills (as well as his general care), but hospital bills thus far are way over 100k and he is navigating the insurance system.