Help Doug Fight Acromegaly

Hi, my name is Jill and I’m fundraising on behalf Douglas Carr.

Over the past three years, Doug has accumulated a strange web of physical symptoms, including severe neck pain and debilitating daily headaches. Recently, the severity of his pain has made him unable to work or engage in physical activity for a sustained period of time.

After a whirlwind of testing, he has finally been diagnosed with Acromegaly, a disease caused by a benign functional tumor measuring 2.2 cm on his pituitary gland which secretes Human Growth Hormone. If left untreated, he could develop cardiovascular disease due to an enlarged heart, diabetes, blindness, respiratory issues, pre-cancerous polyps, benign or malignant tumors throughout his body, excess bone/soft tissue growth, and other complications due to endocrine imbalances. He has already suffered bone and soft tissue growth and is pre-diabetic, so it’s imperative that treatments begin immediately.

Doug will begin his journey to recovery with Duke Medical Center’s pituitary team in Durham. We’re unsure at this point what the cost of his medical expenses will be, but we can reasonably assume the first steps will be medication to slow the tumor’s growth preceding surgery to remove it. If the tumor cannot be removed completely, he may need to undergo radiation treatment. His insurance only covers 50% of surgical bills, and most likely will not cover any of the medication costs. Overall, this is a scary time for Doug and his loved ones and he will need a LOT of support, both financially and emotionally!

Donations will help cover:

Surgery | Cost after insurance ~ $7500

Medication | Could be up to ~ $6000/month

Cost of living | $1200/month

Plus travel expenses and other medical costs, ie. further testing, visits with specialists, etc.

I will provide updated costs as we find out more information about his treatment plan, insurance coverage, and whether he is approved for temporary disability payments, as well as general updates about his health and timelines.

We thank you so much for your care and support during this time! No donation amount is too small, and every single donation is a step towards Doug’s recovery and ability to reclaim the life that’s been put on hold. Let’s get Doug back to smiling, laughing, moving, and making his brilliant music!