Help Mike Pay for His Cancer Treatments

My name is Vanessa Nielson, and I am raising funds for my father, Mike Sellers, who was recently diagnosed with stage four inoperable brain cancer.

Mike is a father of six, a grandfather many times over, and has been married to the love of his life for over 40 years. He has spent his life innovating in software and video games, and for the last several years he has headed up the Game Design program at Indiana University, mentoring the next generation of game developers. He is a graduate of the International School in Manila and Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, an active member of the LDS church, and a frequent Boy Scout leader.

In spring of 2021, Mike began having migraines, followed by memory lapses. He increasingly had trouble concentrating and began to feel unusually tired. His wife, Jo Anna, took him to the Emergency Room twice in June and July before being referred to a neurologist. After an MRI scan revealed the presence of a mass in his brain, he underwent a surgical biopsy on August 24.

 

On September 3, 2021, Mike was diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma, located in the center of his brain, crossing both hemispheres. It is currently inoperable due to its location. A few weeks after his diagnosis, he began an aggressive course of chemotherapy and radiation treatments to slow and hopefully reverse the spread of the cancer.

Mike and his family are facing a battle against this cancer, and with that comes a financial battle to cover the costs. In addition to covering the medical bills until his and Jo Anna's insurance takes over for this year and in the future, they will need help paying for procedures not covered by their insurance, gas for driving back and forth between Bloomington and Indianapolis for Mike's treatments, readying their house for sale, and the loss of his wages.

 

Mike has spent his life engaged in creative pursuits and is known for his humor and quick wit. He has researched and developed innovative technology in the fields of video games and artificial intelligence, in addition to being a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher. He has been a driving force behind IU's Game Design program and the many young minds shaped there, as well as developing dozens of games and AI projects over the years.

 

This cancer diagnosis has hit Mike and his family very hard, and derailed many future dreams. Your love and support during this time mean the world to us. Please give what you can. Any little bit helps.