Michael Waters - End of Life Costs

My name is Michael, though most people know me as "Big Mike." First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported me with prayers and kindness during this challenging time.

In June of this year, I was diagnosed with stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil (malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of the tonsil). Since then, I have undergone 33 sessions of radiation and 7 rounds of chemotherapy. I also had to have a feeding tube inserted, and, during the course of my treatment, I was hospitalized due to kidney failure.

It has been a long and difficult journey, but I started to feel better weeks after completing my treatments. I was beginning to mentally and physically prepare myself to return to work in early 2025. However, I recently experienced a return of pain and discovered a new lump on my neck. A CT scan and biopsy of the lymph nodes have confirmed my worst fear—cancer is still affecting my body.

My medical team is now referring me to a head and neck surgeon for further consultation regarding potential treatment options.

This has been a deeply uncertain and frightening time for me and my family, especially for my two children, ages 10 and 13. At this moment, I am unable to work, and our only sources of income are my wife’s paycheck and my disability benefits. Unfortunately, these funds do not cover our basic living expenses, and we have exhausted our savings.

Thanks to the generosity of so many wonderful people, we have been able to pay down some medical bills and stay afloat. However, with my return to work now delayed even further, I am increasingly concerned about our financial future.

Prayers, words of encouragement, and any donations will be immensely helpful as we navigate this difficult time.

Thank you for your continued support, and may God bless you all.

Sincerely,

Michael (Big Mike)