Help Danny Rongo in his fight with throat cancer

October 2023 UPDATE: Please help our dear brother Danny who is still in great need of support as his cancer has spread aggressively in his body according to his recent pet scan diagnosis at MSK. He has been battling this for 2 years now and after having seven weeks of intensive chemo and radiation back in February we have been praying that his cancer would remain contained but that has not been the case as we know it can ramp up at anytime it chooses. His team of doctors gave him 2 choices and of course his was to continue to fight to survive as long as he can! They began a more intensive chemotherapy treatment these last few weeks and would need it over a course of 4 months at this time. Needless to say, the side effects are very rough and he has become extremely weak and is unable to work anymore. His days consist of just trying to take care of himself from the moment he wakes up with the help of his wife Andrea who is his primary caretaker day in and day out. She does everything to help with his meals and doctor appointments and pretty much tries to keep some normalcy for him daily. The stresses of this along with finances takes a toll as she tries to balance that but takes days off of work to care for him as much as she can too. Our family is doing all we can to help them both during this struggle and Danny is trying his hardest to remain strong and positive through his fight.

All the love, support and prayers have been so greatly appreciated these last few years and if you are able to support and or share this campaign again our family is forever Thankful.

Thank you very much!

In love & light,

Danny's Sisters

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The post below was the start of this fundraiser back in July 2022

Hi, my name is Micaela; my sister Angela and I are fundraising for our dear brother Danny who has Stage 4 throat cancer. He has been a longtime musician, singer, songwriter, spiritual author and activist who has dedicated his life through his music and words of positive messages. He needs his throat/voice to sing as a performer, record his podcasts, speak publicly, and be a full-time student-teacher (Paraprofessional) during the day, so this concerns us greatly.

Having a family member go through this is scary for everyone involved who is close to our brother however, we understand the stresses it can put on anyone with cancer mentally, physically and financially. We love Danny very much and hope you can join us in supporting him and sharing this campaign to help lessen those stresses so he can focus strictly on his fight with cancer and healing.

In September of 2021, our brother went to an ENT specialist and was diagnosed with stage 3 throat cancer.

At first, Danny immediately decided to address how he would treat and heal his body from his holistic, homeopathic, and spiritual foundation of life. So he and his wife Andrea went to work immediately, researching many resources and allowing the spiritual essence he nurtured for 40 years to be the guiding light on his return to wellness, including a strict change in his diet. He began many wellness sessions that included meditations, body scans, Reiki, acupuncture, Chios energy healing, EFT tapping, cupping, psychotherapy and fasting along with all natural integrative medicines.

Keeping a positive mindset and maintaining his physical fitness has also been a big plus for his body and mind to have to endure what would become a bigger fight on his journey.

On March 21st, 2022 a PET-CT scan was done to gauge his progress and see if his previous diagnosis of the cancer was subsiding. Unfortunately, the scan was not good news. The doctor told him that the cancer did in fact spread and was now also in his bones, and that placed him in a Stage 4 category. (It moved fast)

Needless to say not only did that news upset our brother and his wife but his family and friends as well.

I think we can all say CANCER SUCKS but the fight continues and he remains optimistic.

On April 12th, 2022 Danny took his next steps which was highly recommended by the ENT doctor to seek out help and treatment from Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. He met with the Chief of Head and Neck Oncology Dr. David Pfister and his team of doctors.

He had a bone biopsy, more scans, MRI, EKG and bloodwork done to start to see what type of treatment plan would be for him and also a medi port was surgically placed in his chest for the treatments.

He assumed he would be immediately hearing the doctor tell him he would have to have Chemotherapy and Radiation but was relieved to hear there were some other options for his case involving immunotherapy and a few clinical trial treatments that Dr. Pfister was the main lead researcher for. This trial includes two specific drugs (HB-201) (HB-202) along with an Immunotherapy ('Keytruda').

This was a start at least prior to possibly having to have chemo which he may still require if this other treatment isn't effective enough. The doctor said his cancer is 'treatable' but (not curable).

After multiple visits to MSK of information from the doctors, prepping and getting test done the treatments began on May 17th. He did experience very uncomfortable side effects and reactions especially on the first one but has managed a little better with the help and guidance the nurses gave him and his wife for the next few he endured. He currently just had his 3rd treatment on June 28th and is set for his upcoming 4th.

His oncologist was encouraged to see the treatment to be working so far which is good news but Danny is still not out of the woods yet.

The battles with cancer are not easy for anyone and our family is thankful to all who have been asking about him and sending their love and prayers. We know Danny is so grateful too!

Mentally and physically he is doing all he can for himself but of course finances also take a toll during the fight. Insurances only cover so much with treatments and between dozens of trips back and forth to NYC with time away from working its hard on anyone fighting cancer to deal with financial struggles. The less stress of those worries the better the mind and body can heal.

We know our brother will keep on fighting hard to survive it to be able to live his life's purposes. He is a beautiful genuine person who always gives back, helping and paying it forward to people, charities, family and friends so we want to help him in this time of need.

We continue to pray for Danny's recovery and health to be restored. He will be receiving more treatments ahead as of now. (Updates will be posted here)

We Thank You so very much for your Support

In love & health his sisters,

TEAM DANNY