Dustin
LaValley is the author of several books within dark fiction, and writer
of several films, short and feature. Though his work may fall into
dark fiction, many are at home in action, erotica, thriller, and
cross-genre. His collection of micro-short stories, Odds and Ends: An
Assortment of Sorts is now free on Amazon, where it spent 13 months in
the Top 100. His latest novel, Swallowed: A Hypersexual Romance, is
available from Blushing Books and has been called "Down n’ dirty heavy
metal erotica." by Decibel Magazine. More recently, Kirkus Reviews
called his work a "Gritty gem."
His latest film, Human Wreckage, a post-apocalyptic survival tale is
currently making the rounds of the film festival circuit. Two others, a
short, dark drama and a feature thriller are in pre-production at this
moment.
He and his work have been featured in/on PBS, Yahoo News, 3AM Magazine,
Rue Morgue, Fangoria, NPR, Dallas Morning News, Corsicana Daily Sun,
Decibel Magazine, Horror News and Dread Central among other outlets.
Dustin is currently on bed-rest due to a severe and life-threatening
intestinal disease, Crohn's Disease. His latest upper and lower GI
series showed Crohn's has taken over his GI tract, from throat to
J-Pouch. (He had his colon and rectum removed in 2005 due to Ulcerative
Colitis and pre-cancer, his "fake" rectum is made of small intestine,
called a J-Pouch, for its shape.) After losing part of his health care
last year, his medical bills are piling up, and he's found himself in
collections.
With ER visits twice monthly, doctor's visits (General
Practitioner, Gastro-Intestinal), and several tests and medications,
he's been unable to keep up with both monthly bills (phone, car, rent,
etc.) and medical. This has also limited his treatment options. Having
to forgo tests, medications, and treatments that aren't covered and not
within financial reach. Such as a radiation-free MRI and a pill-camera
($1,200 plus the $100 salt tablet pre-test). With a bill of over $500
from his GP alone for the month of August, and several thousand for his
GI, he and his family have reached out to friends, readers, and
strangers for donations to see that he gets the proper treatment, that
his disease does not spread further than it already has and that his
health does not decline further.
Being on a 24/7 hemorrhage watch, he
must be monitored at all times, checked up on during sleep, and visit
the ER if any stool is dark black, which indicates blood. (The lighter
the stool, the less blood.)
Per request of his GI doctor, he was recently denied a hospital stay to
be fed though an IV, a two-week treatment to help the GI tract mend.
As the treatments and tests further, so do the bill(s).
He and his family are reaching out to anyone who can donate to his
fundraiser, to help with paying off medical bills and other direct
issues associated with his health.
Please visit: http://www.gofundme.com/dustinsibd to read me and to donate. Any amount, small or large, is appreciated, as is sharing the link.
