HELP MIKE'S LONG HARD BATTLE

If you’re reading this message and you’ve met Mike Malekow, you’re one of the lucky ones. Mike is an amazing man. He’s is kind, loving, thoughtful, and generous. He is a wonderful husband, father, uncle, brother and loyal friend. If you know him, your life has no doubt been enriched by having Mike in it. If you’re receiving this and you haven’t met him in person, this message won’t begin to do him justice.

In 2016 Mike was diagnosed with throat cancer, after 37 radiation treatments and 6 chemo treatments he thought he was through the worst of it BUT unfortunately during a 3 month check up in June of this year, a small spot showed up on his lung. He would need an operation to remove it.

He went in for surgery on Nov 20th for what he thought was a “little” operation but 8 hours later the news came ... they had to remove his whole right lung. Once inside his chest, they found a 4.5 cm, stage 3, cancerous tumour. We were shocked and devastated to say the least.

Mike spent 3 days in ICU, and 3 more in the general public ward of the Kelowna hospital before being released. Turns out it was far too early as he was far too sick. Mike spent 6 days at home with 5 trips to the emergency room. The last time in, Mike was admitted to the Nelson hospital immediately and taken by ambulance to Kelowna the following morning. 

After 5 days there trying to clear up some of the infection, he had a small surgery to scope what was going on in his chest. Turns out there are two small holes where the bronchial tube got reattached after the tumour was removed and it’s infected. They will be doing another major, dangerous surgery on Friday to try repair the holes. Recovery will be 2 to 3 weeks (at best) in the hospital and then a long road of recovery at home with possible chemo to follow.

Not only has this been a terrifying time, it has also taken a major hit to Mikes retirement fund with having to pay for all the trips, accommodations, medicines, etc. In addition to this, his wife Pam has had to take multiple days off work to be by his side. Mike still has a tough battle ahead of him and with the help of his family and friends, he will get through it but the costs associated with cancer are very high and the last thing Mike and Pam should worry about right now is money. If you know Pam and Mike, you know they would give you the shirts off their backs ... right now they need our help.

Mike is a very proud man and would hate to ask for help ... so I am doing it for them. Please consider donating to this wonderful man and his family. You can also etransfer directly to them if you prefer with [email redacted] password cancer. We thank you for everyone’s support and well wishes. We will keep you updated as surgery goes along.