Medical Care and Support - Organ Donation

Hi, I'm Michael Canter, and many of you know me as writer of The Rundown at Cubs Insider. I need your help.

Recently I was told by my doctors that my liver is enlarged and failing. Liver enzymes in my blood have been elevated through three successive  blood tests, and haven't receded.  The initial fear is that further growth will obstruct or perforate my esophagus, which would likely kill me. 

On February 26 I will get my prognosis, or for lack of better phrasing , the date on which I should expect my shelf life to expire.

I'm not very good at asking for help but three months of being sick has pushed me into what is nothing short of a financial nightmare. This is a societal issue, as nearly half the campaigns on this site are geared toward offsetting medical expenses and related incidentals. I'm no different.  I am ashamed, I need the help of others. My situation is frighteningly urgent.

Here we are, in the richest, most technologically advanced nation in history, and our system for funding health care is so porous that we’ve turned hundreds of thousands of Americans like myself into beggars, rattling this digital tin cup at our most vulnerable moments to try to avoid deep financial hardship or ruin for the “sin” of being unlucky.

Now I am asking for the kindness of strangers to keep me from losing my home in the same manner that I've already lost my savings, and more so, my pride.

Studies have found that only roughly 1 in 10 of GoFundMe’s health-related campaigns meets its goal. My hopes are this one will be an exception. Still, if I raise just enough to cover my utilities bills its one less thing I have to worry about.

One thing I would like to do with any funds I raise would be to fly out to New York and spend some one-on-one time with Eleanor, and then fly to Portland to spend some one-on-one time with Marylou. 

That said, I want more than just your spare change. I want to champion efforts for each of you to consider joining the organ donation registry. I'm almost too old to be eligible and frankly,  after seeing the ages of individuals half my age or younger, I could never take a donor organ that might save someone who is still young enough to make a difference in this world.  

Organ donation and transplantation saves over 28,000 lives a year. Right now 113,000 Americans are in need of an organ, eye, or tissue donor. Every ten minutes someone is added to the donor list, and 22 people die each day waiting for a matching organ. We can do better.

With that in mind, anything I raise above my personal needs will be donated to Donate Life America .

Also, I will be sending #SaveALife - #OrganDonor wristbands for any donations that exceed $15 and Inspiration Necklaces (Faith, Hope Love) for donations of $30 or more . If you want both, please donate twice. If you donate twice, 100% of your second donation will go to Donate Life America .




Items will be shipped at the end of this campaign. I will contact you personally to get shipping information.

Your contributions will offset my expenses.  Extra money could actually save a life or two. In the meantime, please strongly consider being an organ donor. I am. And it is my hope that eventually some part of me will save another's life.

I hope you will consider donating to this campaign. I've loved baseball and the Cubs my whole life. I am hoping, somewhere in your hearts, you love me back just a little bit too. If you cannot donate, at least please share with someone who might.

Thank you for your time, your consideration, and for reading me at Cubs Insider.