Mikes Cancer Journey

Hi, my name is Della and I am raising money to help with lodging, gas, and food for Mike's travels for his cancer treatment. We have exhausted all our means and need help from family and friends.

Back in 2021 while living in Florida, Mike started not feeling well and started losing weight. We made an appointment with his primary doctor who ordered a scan to find out he might have cancer. A colonoscopy was ordered and afterward, during the consultation, the surgeon said Mike had stage 4 colon cancer but worse the cancer had metastasized to his liver. There are 4 large tumors and over 30 small tumors.

Chemo was started shortly after.

Mike worked till he couldn't anymore and after a year and a half of chemo, scans came back and showed the cancer wasn't responding to treatment anymore. At that same time, he officially lost his job and insurance, so he had to get on Cobra which we all know how super expensive Cobra is.

I couldn't just let time pass by so I started looking into different options.

My oldest son is in remission from cancer and I remember the great care he received at Thompsons Cancer Center in Knoxville Tennessee. I contacted them to see if they would take Mike on as a patient and they said yes and within 2 weeks Mike was in Tennessee. Mike started Chemo again and in 6 months the doctor suggested that we start looking for clinical trials because the cancer wasn't responding to chemo once again.

I started looking for clinical trials and contacted Vanderbilt and a few days later we had an appointment for a consultation. After Mike's visit, scan, and blood work, they thought Mike would be a good candidate for the Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump Placement surgery (check it out on youtube) The pump is placed where the gall bladder is (the gall bladder is removed) and the pump line is placed directly into the main artery that goes directly into the liver. They will be putting chemo directly into the liver and every two weeks he will still be getting chemo through his other port as well. The Surgery was done on May 10 and he just has chemo through the pump for the first time.

Everything seems to be going well so far.

This has been an eye-opening experience in several ways. Cancer is devastating in every way physically, and mentally for everyone. Make sure you know what kind of insurance you have. Make sure you have a support team, because you will need it even if it's a shoulder to cry on.

We have been traveling back and forth to Nashville at 3 1/2 hours one way and we have been doing that every week and then eventually every two weeks.

We have spent every penny we have and have even maxed out our credit cards to be able to get him treatment, and now we are in desperate need of help. If you could donate, any amount, everything received will be used for lodging, gas, food, and medical things that are needed. Also if you can't donate prayers are Greatly appreciated.