Michele Mae Morgan

Michele's story is below along with a Facebook post from our Daughter.

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I'm providing this update so that contributors will know how these funds are being used. These funds are being used in three ways.

1. I've hired a Physical Therapist to work with Michele. ALS causes muscle atrophy. This therapy will enable Michele to maintain function longer. She fell and broke her ankle on Nov. 5. The PT will enable her to recover from the surgical repair.

2. Michele's care requires skilled nursing care. I'm employing nurses periodically from a home healthcare agency so I can shop for groceries, care for personal and business matters, and continue to work for our Mission.

3. These funds will also be used to cover medications, doctor visits, and treatment that are not covered by insurance.

{Thank you for your kindness to Michele}

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Michele Mae Morgan

You don’t expect to be caught by a serious medical condition, particularly when you've spent your life giving medical care to thousands of people on five continents.

Michele Morgan has been serving as the International Director of Healthcare Outreach as a missionary with ABWE international for the past 17 years. As a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP, CRNP, RN), she has led or participated in over 30 medical teams to 19 different countries. She held clinics in the Middle East 6 times working with Sudanese refugees and displaced persons. She treated refugees in the Donbass region of Ukraine, earthquake victims in Nepal, Ecuador, and Haiti, tribal people in Papua New Guinea, as well as participating in medical clinics in India, Kosovo, Togo, Zambia, and 6 other countries in South and Central America.

Michele began having symptoms in the Fall of 2021 that were diagnosed as stress. She had been leading four/five international medical clinics each year. It was thought that this rigorous schedule of travel and working in difficult areas of the world was causing her stress.

An MRI at the Cleveland Clinic on April 11, 2022 revealed that Michele had Frontal Temporal Disorder (FTD). This is a degenerative disorder of the brain with no known cause or cure. Michele realized that she would not be able to continue to pursue her passion of bringing healthcare and the gospel to the underserved of the world. She resigned from her role as International Director on April 12, 2022.

Shortly after this initial diagnosis Michele was invited to participate in a research study at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. This was extensive clinical research for people who had been diagnosed with FTD. Michele underwent 5 days of extensive evaluations and testing in early September 2022. Unfortunately, the neurologists discovered that Michele also had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This is a degenerative disorder of the musculo-skeletal system with no known cause or cure. Only 5% of people who are diagnosed with FTD also develop ALS.

Michele’s condition deteriorated slowly during the first year after her initial diagnosis. However, in the last six months Michele has deteriorated more rapidly. Living with these two diseases has been difficult, and day-to-day functioning has gotten very complicated for both Michele and for her husband, John, who is her caregiver.

There are many expenses not covered by insurance. John & Michele are seeking to raise funds to cover healthcare costs for in-home medical equipment, medicine not covered by her drug plan, and consults with her current neurologist and ALS team. Due to Michele’s condition, any home healthcare she receives requires an RN.

Please Note: Money sent to the Morgans through their mission board, ABWE, cannot be used for medical related expenses. Any money raised from this GoFundMe will be used for Michele’s care.

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Dani-Rae Morgan Strohminger - Facebook Post

Dec.21, 2023 9:56 AM

"I have paused so many times posting this... deleted my words so many times. What am I supposed to say. How vulnerable will I allow myself to be. The raw truth is I miss my mother. Who she was. Who she would have been. I miss my best friend. The person who I called everyday. The person who sent me a large box of goodies for each possible holiday in college. I miss the traditions she created. She was the center of our family. The glue. She has slowly been slipping away, for maybe even the last 10 years. It would be much easier to just delete this post now - but I want people to think of her. Not for who she is now but for who she was. Her love for others, her joy and kindness, and most of all for how she has touched so many. Remember how she touched your life. This for me is not a plea for money but to remember what is truly important. How are you spending your time and what imprint are you leaving on those you encounter. Life is short with those you love."