The Tribune

By CARA BETHEL

cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

As 11-year-old D’Quan Brown continues his battle with leukaemia, his parents are desperately trying to raise more than $60,000 which will go towards a life-saving bone marrow transplant.

To date, 117 charities, schools and individuals have stepped up to the plate, donating  $37,462 in one month to help defray D’Quan’s medical expenses through the families Go Fund Me website page.

However, since The Big T first covered this family’s story last month, the fundraising goal has increased from $50,000 to $100,000.

D’Quan’s father, DeQuido Brown, told The Big T on Thursday that his son is currently undergoing a number of procedures, including another round of chemotherapy. Mr Brown he said the big challenge now is be identifying a viable bone marrow donor and finding the necessary funds for the transplant D’Quan so desperately needs.

In his latest update on the Go Fund Me site, Mr Brown said that his insurance provider has said that D’Quan is fast approaching his lifetime maximum.

“Our greatest fear now is not having enough funds available to even start the bone marrow transplant procedure,” he said. “ We can buy some time through post transplant, but not pre-transplant.”

In the meantime, D’Quan continues to bravely face a number of health challenges, his father explained.

“This is the 14th month that D’Quan has been experiencing those chronic bladder spasms without an official diagnosis; we are very concerned about this. So we are now searching for another medical facility with excellent standards to have both D’Quan’s urological needs met while having his transplant done.

“Unfortunately, we now have to stretch for more funding and increase our goal. You’re now aware that there are quite a few urgent decisions to be made, we are in need,” he said.

The Brown family’s ordeal began last September when D’Quan, an athletic and energetic child, began experiencing pelvic pains.

After a protracted process involving intensive blood tests and multiple visits to specialists, he was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia.

Mr Brown said his family does not have a history of the disease and they were shocked that D’Quan, who was born completely healthy, was diagnosed with this form of deadly childhood cancer.

After the official diagnosis was made, D’Quan started intensive chemotherapy treatment. He also underwent a lumbar puncture, following which he suffered a number of complications.

Mr Brown said his son needs assistance with everything from getting into the bath and the bed, to opening doors and being transferred into vehicles.

“Day-to-day life has changed tremendously. I’ve been forced to resolve all of my employment contracts and small business investments that required my attention in order to be D’Quan’s primary caretaker in the US,” Mr Brown said in a previous interview.

“My wife on the other hand, of course, had to return to work after a lengthy leave of absence. Our medical insurance is also connected through her employer in Nassau. My kids were used to their dad doing school drop-offs and pick-ups; I was also their PTA vice-president; it hurts me that I’m not able to be the man in my home,” he said.

D’Quan requires a caretaker around the clock, but Mr Brown said he gladly accepts this job without regret.

“My days are spent taking care of D’Quan in every way. And the circumstances are of course really rough on D’Quan,” Mr Brown said.

“Not only does he have cancer, he’s partially paralysed. He worked so hard at sports, very competitive and always strived to be the best at track and basketball. He now wears diapers because he cannot control his bowel and bladder. He cannot feel his feet and they remain ice cold. He gets frustrated because he now struggles with life’s most simplest tasks. These are the effects of an irreversible spinal cord injury the occurred during the lumbar puncture,” Mr Brown said.

To date, D’Quan has completed over 100 hours of physical therapy and is still actively enrolled in physical therapy whenever his strength or chemotherapy treatment allows his participation.

Mr Brown said his son misses seeing and spending time with his family and friends, “but he understands that he won’t see them for a long time.”

“I’d give just about anything to watch D’Quan run on the track, on the soccer field or play on the basketball court again,” Mr Brown said.

• Persons interested in contributing to the fundraising efforts for D’Quan Brown can go to the website http://www.gofundme.com/dquan or send an email to fundingfordquan@gmail.com.