Help Mike Morea!

My name is Bill Wagner and I have been a staff writer for the Capital Gazette sports department for 30 years. 

 

When I was serving in the role of high school sports editor, I hired Mike Morea as a freelancer in September, 1993. Mike's role has evolved and he is now a part-time employee of Capital Gazette and is the second-longest tenured member of the department behind myself at 26 years.

 

Mike has battled diabetes since he was 11 years old and over the years the disease has taken its toll on his health. 

 

Mike lost his right leg below the knee in March, 2013 due to vascular difficulties stemming from the diabetes.


Most recently, in May of this year, Mike lost his left leg below the knee as well due to added vascular issues stemming from 45 years with diabetes.

Mike's co-pays for various medical procedures have been adding up quickly, as every time a doctor stopped in to see him during a nearly two-week stay in the hospital was considered a visit.

 

Mike spent nine days at the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center and another 15 days at the University of Maryland Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Institute.

 

Doctor's appointments will continue to be frequent once home nursing, which entails a co-pay, ends. Those subsequent doctor's appointments will require a co-pay each time as well.

Mike will need to take classes and have his vehicle adapted in order to drive again, which insurance usually doesn’t pay for.

A second prosthetic will cost money out of pocket, depending how much the insurance company wants to pay.

Mike has not worked since May 24 and short-term disability took a long time to kick in due to paperwork and bureaucracy.

 

Mike is an accountant by trade and was working 9 to 5 for Annapolis Performance Sailing in Annapolis. It is unclear at this time when, or if, Mike will be able to return to work there. 

 

Mike has not been able to get regular shifts from Capital Gazette this summer because there are no high school sports, coverage of which forms the basis of the majority of his work.


Please consider helping my friend Mike Morea if you can.

 

Sincerely 

Bill Wagner