Help Michael Fight Cancer

Michael Robillard is an adventurous 51-year-old man. A free-spirit and creative person who loves music, writing, and the arts. A natural history buff, he loves to share intellectual and philosophical pursuits and conversations with friends and family. He has a way at looking at the world through an interesting lens. He has travelled in Europe and Canada while doing unique jobs and pursuing some of his dreams.

Michael has never married. Eventually he settled back in Sault Ste. Marie to be near his family, where he supported himself with a humble job as a Taxi Driver, which he enjoyed for many years. He liked interacting with his customers and having interesting conversations. In recent times, however, a series of personal circumstances has led him to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. Returning home from work one day, he struggled to climb the few flights of stairs to his apartment, due to shortness of breath and overwhelming anxiety. This forced him to take respite from his work to seek help. Michael has tried to recover from his anxiety and find a niche again in the working world, and in returning to school, but subsequently, he needed the assistance of Ontario Works so that he can live.

The Covid-19 Pandemic did not help his personal matters. As has been the situation for many people, his anxiety and mental health were pushed to higher limits. During the Summer of 2021 Michael’s continued to have panic attacks, causing him to experience hot and cold flashes, nausea, and difficulty breathing. In order to work on his healing journey, he would often take walks to change the scenery, and connect with friends and family. On the way home from one such walk this Fall, Michael stepped off the sidewalk curb and jarred his back. He felt a slight kink, but thought nothing more of it. However, this developed into severe chronic back pain for Michael resulting in trips to the hospital for his pain management. He has no doctor so required consultations with his nurse practitioner, to find out some answers. For several months now his chronic back pain has caused distress and mobility issues. While, attention was put towards his anxiety, he was sent home with a change in medication. On December 6th, 2021, Michael finally received an appointment for an MRI to investigate the back pain. The hospital immediately called for a Cat Scan. His tests revealed a series of tumours along his back, also affecting his kidneys, bones and upper spine. The oncologists diagnosed him with Clear Cell Renal Sarcoma Cancer.

The news of his diagnosis and threatening health condition has been devastating. Michael is receiving treatments for his cancer at the Sault Ste Marie and Area Hospital. His recovery plan entails radiation and chemotherapy. His is bedridden and has limited mobility. He will need some assistance and support for his health needs, recovery, mobility, and to make him as comfortable as possible in the upcoming weeks and months.

We humbly ask you to find it in your heart to help Michael fight cancer. Please contribute to his Go Fund Me campaign on Facebook for Michael’s sake.

Thank you for your kind continued support.