RIP, he shall be missed. That site's been a good one throughout the years, I've made genuine friends over it even outside its' more famous uses.

This does raise some worries about the future of FurAffinity. That site runs at a deficit, so if a corporate investor gets their hands on it then it will be swiftly thrown into the Shit Pit in order to make a quick buck. Decades of art, literature and culture gone in a flash.

Thankfully, we are the furry fandom, so the chances of getting touched by corporations are a bit lower than other sites which are more marketable. But still, making sure that the site has sufficient funding for the future is going to be a real concern. I can't back this up, it's just a rumour I heard, but the most likely reason that Dragoneer died now is because he chose to use his money to keep the site running instead of buying medicines. While the shitty US healthcare system is absolutely to blame for this death, it also makes a pretty stark point about the cost of the site, if it's comparable to having to buy US Medicines.

His last few tweets are incredibly depressing to read. The US healthcare system really is utterly fucked up... RIP

I just took a look at their final few BlueSky posts. I hope they can at least rest in peace now.

What a heartbreaking tragedy that had no reason to even happen except for the greed of capital.

Stories from the evil empire like this dig up such a deep seated rage within me.

I’m gonna go listen to some System and buy someone a meal, because that’s all I can do besides vOtE. God help us all.

May he rest peacefully now in the digital world.

I didn't know much about him beforehand, but my life would be drastically different without FA. There are so many people I wouldn't have met, including my partner. He must've improved the lives of so many people through the platform. RIP.

As much as I would love to complain about the healthcare systems, this looks more like some condition that he had for a month or two and didn't appreciate the severity. Based on the fact he complained about the cost, but never brought up not being able to afford it, its unknown if he didn't seek treatment earlier because he didn't know that he needed to, or that he couldn't afford it. Biopsies and specialists take time unless you are actively dying, and when he was seeking treatment, that did not seem to be the case. This is true anywhere. Unfortunately he ran out of time, ~~pneumonia~~ Lung issues ~~is~~ are no joke and there isn't really anything you can do about it until you know whats causing it, even then, sometimes there is nothing that can be done. There is another discussion at !chat@yiffit.net

Edit: made an edit above, additional thoughts below
I will put suffocating because of coughing towards the top of the list of horrible ways to die.
Looking back through posts, I still don't know if he didn't seek help months ago because of cost or need. If it was cost, that sucks. I'm not a doctor, but looking into the two options presented, neither had a positive outlook. Based on posts indicating long covid and a recurrence of shingles, I will put him in the immunocompromised category. Whether cancer or fungus, prognosis on both is poor.
Is the healthcare system in the US too expensive, yes, no question. Its full of perverse profit incentives at every level and inelastic demand with near monopolistic supply. Did it make a difference here, I don't know, but I don't think it forms the basis for a compelling argument or complaint. If the biopsy came back and he couldn't afford treatment, this would be different.

His life ended in an unpleasant way I would not wish on anybody. May his contributions not be forgotten.