Help Michelle win her fight against lung cancer!

I bet Stage 3 lung cancer isn't on your Christmas list. It certainly wasn't what Michelle (Missy) was expecting to have to face when the family should be celebrating the Holidays when she was given the shocking news at 47.

If you've ever met Michelle, you already know her as the most caring and giving person you will ever encounter. A true empath that feels the pain and suffers with others. What makes this most unfair is that she's the first person to aid someone in need. The first to bring flowers, cook meals or share space with a hurting stranger or loved one.

Her diagnosis was a cruel twist of fate; NEVER a smoker, a mystery to her and the doctors. Facing the grim statistic that only 15% of those diagnosed live past 5 years, the holiday season has a different meaning for her husband and three children. Instead of shopping for gifts, decorating and spending time with loved ones, days were filled with exhaustion, confusion and fear.

Conversations became, "would this be my last Christmas?" and "will I get to see my girls graduate from school or meet my grandchildren someday?" All of those fears bolstered by the knowledge that the death of both her mother and mother-in-law from the same disease was a pain still unhealed. Scans showed the cancer growing into a major artery in her lung, making surgery impossible. There was hope that chemotherapy treatments might cause it to migrate away from the vessel just enough to be able cut out half of her lung. Praise God, that it did!

Surgery was scheduled for her 48th birthday. A bittersweet present for sure, but she and the family were immeasurably thankful for the chance to fight back! Lung cancer surgery, removing part of the lung, is infamous for being one of the most painful and difficult recoveries. The time following the surgery was filled with more fear, pain and tears. With her husband, Jason, her children, Joe, Brooke and Jenna, and her family and friends constantly at her side, recovery began, but the fight had just begun. The list of complications and setbacks is staggering. If successful, there is another year of immunotherapy treatments on the horizon, to try to be in that 15%.

Those treatments are relatively new, very expensive (excess of $10,000 every 3 weeks) and try to scour the body of any cancer that tries to come back.

Blessed with a wonderfully understanding employer at MLive Media, she has been able to take the time away to heal, to get treatments and try to recover. Not really something that helps with her sales career though.

Adding to a mounting financial setback, work would suffer. Her husband and constant companion would have to focus on caring for her needs in the coming months and take time away from the small business he started right before the diagnosis (unfortunate timing for sure). The thing they don't tell you is that chemo literally cooks your organs, the side effects are real and debilitating. Michelle is one of the unlucky souls to encounter substantial damage to their teeth. The bills for reconstruction will be around $15,000 alone. Some have "chemo brain", or in her case, significant cognitive impairment, akin to head trauma or a stroke, making expensive cognitive and speech therapy necessary, more bills in the many thousands...Between loss of work for her and her husband, the mountain of unopened medical bills, deductibles for all the procedures, endless co-pays, along with dental, and uncovered treatments for the next year, the financial burdens have become a tyrant almost as crushing as the cancer diagnosis. STRESS is a TOP contributor to the growth of cancer, let's get rid of that!

Let's help this amazing mother, wife and friend to ALL ease some of that stress and let her be able to focus on trying to heal, get back to life one day soon!

Although the family has worked very hard to shoulder the costs of this battle, it has become time to accept the kindness of others. We know that these are difficult times for many - please know that any amount you can contribute is gratefully appreciated. If you can’t donate at this time, it is also meaningful to share the campaign with your personal reasons for wanting to see Michelle supported. Your own loved ones may be moved by your care for her and want to help too. We want to surround her in the same love and support that she has shown so many.

Please note: We understand that this news is very difficult and will likely come as a shock to those of you who know Missy. She has guided and approved what we have shared in this campaign, and we will post updates as directed by her here or on the Facebook page Jason put up. We ask that you not reach out to her with questions about her diagnosis or treatment at this time, as she and her family are very overwhelmed. You are welcome to share messages of support here: although Missy might not be able to respond to each one, your care is deeply appreciated.