Help Chicken George Kick Cancer

Hey y'all this is Danny Spence and I'm helping raise funds for my close friend Jeff Henry, known to many as DJCG/ DJ Chicken George. In December of 2021, Jeff was diagnosed with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL), a very rare type of skin cancer that begins in white blood cells called T cells (T lymphocytes). These cells normally help your body's germ-fighting immune system. In cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, the T cells develop abnormalities that make them attack the skin.

 

Thankfully it's a treatable condition, but during his 6 - 8 month treatment and recovery process, Jeff will be unable perform his work as a full-time DJ. Your donation will help cover his medical, personal, and living expenses during this challenging time.

 

 

Jeff has been a lovable force in the Austin music community for decades. His efforts with mix series Peddlin' Jazztronica, hip hop group Third Root, and modern funk label Austin Boogie Crew (ABC) leave daily imprints.

 

I was beyond hyped and honored when Jeff joined ABC back in 2013. We were just getting our start, and were skeptical that a local legend would be down to join us Similac kids. But I learned that with Jeff, it was about the music before everything else. Since then, he's become an older brother to me. He's mentored me and looked out for me during troubled times. I have the utmost love and respect for him as a friend, a creative, a father, and much more.

 

Now Jeff needs our help, so I ask that anybody who's been impacted by him in a similar way in life and/or on the dancefloor rally together for our brother!



WORDS FROM DJCG:


Friends and family, I’ve been privately and quietly dealing with some major health issues that has considerably rocked me to the core. After six months of being misdiagnosed, in December 2021 a very painful but necessary skin biopsy was able to correctly diagnose my condition with Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), a very rare type of skin cancer. By this point, my condition had progressed to stage 4 because of being misdiagnosed for so long. On December 12, I performed my last public event & stop accepting gigs in general because by that time, my fatigue level was extremely high and my energy level was severely low. 

At this point up until now, everything is heavy. I’m unable to lift more than 15 to 20 pounds comfortably, so sadly, forget about lifting a turntable or a crate of records. Normal activities like walking across the parking lot while doing grocery shopping cause me to get short winded, and I have to prioritize simple tasks because I am no longer able to do more than a few each day. 

I went from being able to hike/bike 30-40 miles a week to zero physical activity because my body just can’t perform such rigorous activity.
It’s going to take a considerable amount of conditioning to get back to the point where I was before my illness, but I’m determined to get there as I begin to build back my strength. 

I’m grateful to my brother Spence from Austin  Boogie Crew for starting this go fund me as I'll need all the help and support from the community that I can get to allow me get through this. While I’m receiving treatment (Chemotherapy) for the next 6 - 8 months.



ADDITIONAL WAYS TO SUPPORT:


Simply sharing/reposting the GOFUNDME link on your timeline and/or texting the link to friends & family


Purchasing any of the Merch options on ThirdRoot.bandcamp.com


Venmo: @jeffhenry512


Thanks to you all from the bottom of my heart. Can’t wait to get back to what I love doing the most, providing the grooves but whatever situation calls for it!


Peace & Love,


DJCG





TIMELINE OF MY ILLNESS: 



July 2021 - Without a direct irritant, the skin on my arms began to itch uncontrollably. Friends noticed how often I was scratching my arms and would ask me if I was okay.


August 2021 - The itchiness spread to my torso and legs while my skin became increasingly dry and flakey. After going through a variety of over-the-counter ointments and creams, nothing was alleviating the discomfort. My eyebrows and head hair thinned to an extent that I was unrecognizable.  


September 2021 - My legs began to swell causing me to gain weight and limit mobility such as walking, using a staircase, etc. I sought care from a general physician who prescribed medication for the edema. Lab work for my thyroid returned as "negative".


October 2021 -  The itchiness grew aggressively from head to toe, then welts appeared. My legs swelled again, but this time, so did my entire body. I scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist who could not diagnosis me with a specific condition, but did prescribe more medication.


November 2021 - I pushed through gigs to earn a living although my body was slowing down. If you saw me during this time, you witnessed my weak posture and struggle to walk from point A to point B. Without a concrete diagnosis from a general physician and dermatologist, I scheduled an appointment with an allergist. He immediately scheduled a biopsy. 


December 2021 - I was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). I was referred to Texas Oncology where aggressively started multiple procedures to determine the severity of my condition to be able to determine the correct treatment. I had a skin biopsy, a bone marrow biopsy, full body PET scan, countless lab/blood work.


January 2022 - A lymph node was removed from my right underarm to find out if the cancer had spread to other lymph nodes - and yes, it did, but thankfully to no other organs. I underwent a procedure for a portacath so that I could begin Chemotherapy in February. 


February 2022 - Completed my first infusion & have 7 more treatments/ infusions to go.