A former child star from Opportunity Knocks thought his weight loss was due to giving up beer, but it turned out to be terminal cancer. David Carey, who appeared on the show at age nine in 1976, moved to China in 2002 with his brother Geoffrey Tipton and later settled in Thailand with his wife Kanjana Carey and two daughters.
After experiencing significant weight loss in December 2023, David attributed it to cutting out beer from his diet, but his brother Geoffrey remained skeptical. Following two collapses at home in January, David was diagnosed with stage four metastatic lung cancer during hospitalization in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The devastating news included a prognosis of only six months to live due to cancer spreading to his brain and chest.
Living in Thailand for over two decades, David, originally from Blackpool, Lancashire, lacks access to free healthcare as a foreigner. To support his medical expenses, his brothers initiated a GoFundMe campaign, highlighting the high costs of hospital treatments in Thailand.
Geoffrey, an AI data scientist residing in Hong Kong, emphasized the family’s financial struggles in providing adequate medical care for David. With treatment expenses ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 per session, the family faces challenges in affording the necessary care. Despite efforts to raise funds, the cost of chemotherapy and ongoing treatment remains a significant barrier.
Geoffrey stressed the inability to cover the extensive medical costs and the emotional toll on the family, expressing concern over David’s well-being and the limitations imposed by immigration rules. The family is determined to support David but acknowledges the formidable financial obstacles ahead.
To contribute to David’s medical fund, donations can be made through his GoFundMe page.