Morton Family Out of Pocket Medical Expense Fund

For those of us who know Mike we know he’s a hard worker, a provider for his family and someone who would do anything for anyone at a moments notice and ask for nothing in return. Mike and his family are now reaching for a helping hand after a grueling 5 months of non-stop medical appointments without answers and the unplanned expense they’ve had and will now be facing….

If you’re asking, well what the hell is wrong? Let’s back up a minute. In 2020, after a medical event that doctors are in disbelief he survived, Mike learned that his liver was failing him. He underwent a TIPS procedure and a major change in lifestyle in which he and his doctors were hopeful would get his liver cooperating again. And it did, until July of this year. After a weekend of not feeling well, being disoriented, and not himself, it was decided that an ER visit was necessary on Sunday evening. This ER visit would turn life upside down in the Morton household. Mike was admitted to Community Hospital where he spent 2 days counting ceiling tiles and receiving no answers. He was sent home and told to follow up with his primary doctor. He went home not knowing if his liver had officially gone bad, if his heart was failing, etc. What he did know was that he was not going to be able to go back to a laborious career in construction without major medical intervention. He was first set up with a GI specialist in Missoula who performed several tests only to come up with no answers. He saw a cardiologist, no answers. After visiting again with his primary doctor, she referred Mike to the Mayo Clinic in Arizona as it seemed they were out of options and hope was running out. A second opinion was sought by another GI specialist, who could not provide a definitive diagnosis but could confirm that a visit to Mayo would be necessary as he plainly stated to Mike what was looming all along, he likely needs a liver transplant and soon.

Mike and Tiffany are scheduled to leave for his appointment at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona mid-December. To save on travel expenses they have to leave their child home not knowing for sure if they will all be together for Christmas. Mike has not been able to return to work at Jackson Contracting since July. PTO has long run out and other benefits which have provided a fraction of his income to the household are in jeopardy as 2023 draws to a close. Mike, Tiffany and their son Emmett have been solely surviving on Tiffany’s paycheck, hope and faith. If you’ve seen them recently you probably have no idea of the stress they’re under as they put on a smile and a brave face every time they leave the house. Not once have either of them asked for help and it’s been less than easy to get them to accept as little as a ride to town, so it’s with Tiffany’s permission that I am starting this go fund me. They are fortunate to have great health insurance through Jackson, but it is unknown how much longer they will be able to stay on that plan. While the health insurance has taken care of the direct medical cost, they are facing a mountain of out of pocket expense once they get to Mayo. Funds received here will go directly to Tiffany to help pay for travel, lodging, meals and whatever else comes their way as they navigate their way back to what they know as a normal life. If you are not able to donate, please say a prayer, send hope and good vibes into the universe for our friend Mike.