GoFundMe Started for Southwest and Northwest Terror Fest Founder Diagnosed with Cancer
Founder of both Southwest and Northwest Terror Fests David Rodgers was just diagnosed with an incurable form of Multiple Myeloma, and he’s crowdfunding to be able to get some relief.
His GoFundMe, which was started by his partner Miki Rodgers, was set up to help he and his family make through this. While the cancer isn’t fully curable, it can be treated and sent into remission. He is looking to raise $50,000 to help with bills.
The GoFundMe page explains:
“Hello, my name is Miki Rodgers. I am setting up this GoFundMe on behalf of my partner, love of my life, and father to our dogs, David. We met and became friends in 2003, and by 2004, we were dating. We moved in with each other and got our first pup, Capone, shortly afterwards. We got married in 2006. We were young, full of life, and working hard together for each other. Our family moved to Washington state nine years ago and got another pup, Artoo. In that time, we also started 1709 Records, a small independent record store in downtown Vancouver, WA where we love to interact with our wonderful customers and friends.
“David founded the amazing Southwest Terror Fest and Northwest Terror Fest with friends. These events were annual music festivals in Tucson and Seattle that brought together heavy music artists and fans from around the world. He also performed and recorded with his bands, Godhunter and Taarna. David also ran Battleground Records, releasing many records for bands across the country. Our involvement in and around music allowed us to meet people and create so many long lasting friendships and eternal bonds.
“This summer started out just like normal for us. We were hiking and kayaking and going to the shore so Artoo could run wild. We had just celebrated David’s 50th birthday and our 17th wedding anniversary this year, and we were happy and healthy, and life was good.
“In August, David started to have back issues. After severe back spasms and a sciatic nerve problem in his right leg, we took him to Urgent Care, where it was discovered with an X-Ray that he had a severe compression fracture in his L4. The doctors said it was a pathological fracture, which means something in the bone or marrow caused it.
“We were sent for further testing (MRI, CT and PET Scan, blood tests, and a bone marrow biopsy) and the doctors discovered cancerous lesions in his spine, sacrum, pelvis, and right femur. When his L4 was fixed with kyphoplasty, they biopsied the lesion in the L4 and confirmed that David has Multiple Myeloma cancer.
“At this time, this form of cancer is incurable. The cancer can only be treated, with the goal of entering a remission state that will allow David to live longer. Without treatment, his life expectancy would be two years, at most. The end of his life would be on a dialysis machine.
“We have decided to throw everything we have at this and fight it with chemotherapy and stem cell replacement therapy. Our doctors are hopeful that these treatments will push the cancer into a dormant state. The doctors believe that this will give David nine years or more. We remain hopeful that this allows more time for a cure or better treatments to be developed. Doctors are seeing promising successes in new and experimental treatments like CAR-T.
“We have never asked anyone for help before, but for the first time in our 20-plus-year relationship, we really need help from our family and friends. We do have health insurance and savings, but we all know how fast cancer treatments will burn through your life savings. This fundraising campaign will directly help us with out-of-pocket expenses and copays along with travel to/from medical offices, surgery, and treatment centers.
“Anything that you can give will help us immensely. If you are unable to financially support the fundraiser, simply sharing this page around the internet would be greatly appreciated. To everyone reading this, we love you very much and thank you for all your support, in the past, present and future.”
Our hearts go out to David and Miki and we’re pulling for a successful fundraiser and even more successful remission from cancer. If you have any extra funds, consider helping out at the GoFundMe page.
