Mike Billups Ongoing Medical Bills

Hello everyone. Thank you for taking the time to visit. I am creating this campaign to raise funds for one of my best friends and band mate, Mike Billups.

On Monday, July 4th, Mike was rushed to the hospital due to excruciating pain and severe swelling in his feet. That night he told the band that it was a serious infection and there was a real possibility that one of his feet may need to be amputated and feared that this infection could spell the end of his drumming career. As the night wore on, he learned that the blood infection in at least one of the feet had migrated into his bone tissue. Thankfully it also appeared that the doctors would not have to resort to the drastic action of removing an entire foot, but significant parts of his foot would have to be removed to eliminate the most lethal part of the infection. Days later, Mike underwent two surgeries in the span of 48 hours, and the doctors were able to remove the infected tissue. However, at this point, the infection remained in his bloodstream, and he would spend the next several days in the hospital with an IV drip fighting off the infection. Mike was eventually sent home with a portable IV drip that would continuously provide antibiotics to fight the infection, and as of today, he is thankfully doing much better from a physical health standpoint.

However, one thing was clear from all this – Mike would be forced to retire from drumming. Now that may not sound like the end of the world to a lot of people reading this, but if you know Mike – you know how devastating this is for him. He has spent the last 22 years playing in numerous bands. I know without a shadow of a doubt that being a musician is his life, and now that has been taken away from him. On top of what is the loss of his livelihood, Mike is facing a mountain of medical bills. An ambulance ride, multiple surgeries, over a week stay in a hospital room and continuing at-home care are just some of the bills he’s going to be facing.

Now the good news – Mike has a ton of friends and a great family that are all going to support him and contribute to this campaign. But for those that don’t know him as well or don’t know him at all, I just want to say a few things. Mike has gone out of his way to help thousands of people (particularly in the DIY music scene) time and time again. Whether it’s putting out a band’s record on his own personal independent label, helping to book a band, promoting shows he didn’t even book, or just providing advice to folks in the scene that are just getting their footing – he does all these things in a selfless manner. I’ve seen him take money out of his own wallet to pay a touring band that didn’t make any money off the door at a show. I don’t think he’s ever been to a show where he didn’t purchase at least one piece of merchandise from the bands. He supports everyone. All the time. And that is no exaggeration. If he has helped you in some way, and for most of you, I’m sure he has, I humbly ask that you help him this time around.

Finally, please keep in mind that the goal of this campaign is just the tip of the ice-burg. His final bills could be ten or twenty times what is being asked for here. So please - once we reach the initial goal, I beg you to not stop there and to continue to contribute to his medical bills. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and know that whatever you can give is very much appreciated by Mike.