A Beacon of Hope: Mike Melby's Fight for Life and Family

7/3 Update: It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I provide an update that Mike has passed. We love and will miss him dearly. You can find more information here: https://m.facebook.com/grandmas.restaurants/

Please continue to support the Melby’s and keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

I’m sharing with you the incredible fight that Mike Melby is currently undergoing to be fully reunited with his family. This is a story of a man battling for his life after enduring two heart attacks and undergoing four major surgeries. Mike currently is in critical condition at the University of Minnesota Hospital. Your support and love for Mike mean the world to the Melby family.

For those acquainted with Mike, he is a devoted husband to Lesa (Beneke), a father to Gretchen and Leif, a father-in-law to Cade Grover, and, most significantly, Grandpa “Papa” to Tyler and Henry. Mike cherishes spending time with his family: cooking, visiting Lake Superior, tending to his sprawling backyard garden, and embarking on trips to Renaissance fairs or Anoka Halloween.

Mike's health journey began innocuously enough. While taking a walk with Lesa one winter day, she noticed him struggling to breathe. Despite the progression of winter, Mike's breathing difficulties persisted, eventually prompting a visit to the doctor. On March 5th, doctors discovered significant blockage, necessitating an immediate quadruple bypass surgery. Post-surgery, Mike encountered further complications, including difficulty breathing and dangerously low blood pressure, due to scar tissue constricting his heart's function. He was able to go home for a few days, but eventually landed back in the hospital. Another major surgery was imperative to remove the scar tissue, but subsequent check-ups revealed an infection near his heart, mandating yet another surgery and prolonged hospital stay. The surgeries was successful, and Mike was showing great progress walking and going up and down stairs. Mike remained resilient until a sudden cardiac arrest on April 27 and another on the 28th, plunged him into a life-threatening situation.

On April 28th, summoned by medical urgency, Mike's family rushed to his side, only to be confronted with the grim reality of his deteriorating condition. With doctors preparing for the worst, Mike was placed on a ventilator and life support. Fearing the worst, his family fervently advocated for his survival, ultimately convincing the medical team to resort to ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) as a last-ditch effort to sustain his vital functions. Adverse weather thwarted a planned life-flight to the U of M hospital, necessitating a precarious two-hour ambulance journey, during which Mike fought valiantly for his life.

The U of M hospital, would offer a glimmer of hope as the expert medical team succeeded in weaning Mike off the ECMO machine after week. Encouraging signs followed, including Mike's responsiveness to stimuli and removing his ventilator. Despite the progress, Mike's road to recovery remains arduous, fraught with uncertainty and prolonged hospitalization.

Since March 5, 2024, Mike has endured four major surgeries, four intubations, two cardiac arrests, and reliance on life-saving machines. The journey ahead promises to be grueling, surpassing the three months already spent in the hospital.

Your generous contributions will directly aid Lesa in managing the overwhelming medical expenses and specialized care required for Mike's recovery. Throughout this ordeal, the Melby family has remained steadfastly by Mike's side, sacrificing work and connections with loved ones to ensure his comfort and well-being. They will continue to be in the months ahead, as the recovery will require many more tests, therapy, appointments, transportation, and other medical supplies.

Mike's fight is not just his own; it's a testament to the incredible resilience of a man determined to return to the loving embrace of his family. Your support and well-wishes are invaluable as we rally around the Melby family, illuminating their path with hope and love during these trying times.

Thank you for standing with us in this journey of healing and restoration. Together, we can offer the Melby’s the unwavering support and encouragement they need to navigate this challenging chapter in their lives.