By Terra Avilla
“If anything happens to me, help me take care of my family.”
Those words aren’t born of fear… they’re born of love. For Lassen County native DJ Estacio, they are the quiet prayer behind every one of his decisions, every treatment, every exhausting and hopeful step he takes.
They’re the reflection of a man who puts his wife and baby girl before himself, even as he fights for his life.
I don’t know DJ intimately, but I know enough to understand why our community values him so deeply, reading the reshares of his GofundMe, and the things people say about him HAVE ME WEEPING.
He’s clearly the type of person who goes about life humble and kind, never asking for anything, but always willing to give. And now, he is the one in need.
For those unfamiliar, back in 2021, DJ started experiencing unusual abdominal pain. After months of testing, it was discovered he had Familial Adenomatous Polyposis which is a rare genetic mutation that causes the body to grow countless polyps, with an almost certain chance they will turn cancerous.
So in November 2022, he underwent surgery at Stanford where his colon, gallbladder, appendix, part of his bladder, and dozens of lymph nodes were removed. The recovery was long, but the outcome seemed hopeful and at the time, there were no signs of cancer.
In that window of remission, DJ and his wife began thinking about something they had never thought of before of before,becoming parents. For over a decade of their relationship, they had accepted the idea that they might never be parents. But after hearing other cancer survivors say their children gave them strength to keep going, they decided to try.
In April 2024, the pregnancy test was positive. And on November 20, 2024, DJ and his wife welcomed their miracle baby girl, who they named, Ensley Grace.
Just a few months after she was born, the symptoms returned. Scans revealed devastating news: the cancer had come back and spread to his liver, pelvis, and lungs. Doctors delivered the blunt truth that there were no conventional treatments left to stop it.
It’s very clear for DJ, every giggle, every first milestone is more precious than words can express… because he knows what he’s up against.
But DJ has been counted out before, and he’s not willing to give up now. He’s pursuing holistic treatments, those treatments, however, aren’t covered by insurance and require costly travel, lodging, and care expenses nearly impossible to manage on disability income.
And through it all, his thoughts ALWAYS circle back to Ensley and his wife. His deepest hope isn’t just to survive for his own sake, but to be there to watch his daughter grow up — to walk her into her first day of school, to teach her to ride a bike, to cheer at her graduations.
If that’s not possible, he wants to ensure she and her mother are cared for and supported.
In Lassen County, we know that “community” means we show up for each other in the hardest moments. DJ’s story reminds me of what extacly make LASSEN remarkable. It’s not just the landscape, the small town vibe and the fresh mountain air….Its turly the people who rally together when life delivers its hardest blows.
Whether it’s by donating to help cover treatment costs, sharing his story, or simply offering prayers and encouragement, we can make sure DJ knows he’s not in this fight alone.
In essence, DJ’s started this fundraiser, to help his family. Because when one of us says, “If anything happens to me, help me take care of my family,” that’s exactly what we do and it’s why I love the place we live.
DJ, sending you the utmost love, support, prayers.
