No one fights alone - help Mikhail beat cancer!

My name is Teri and I am posting this on behalf of Mikhail, my husband, who wanted to reach out to as much people as he can before his big procedure this Friday…

Before my brain even fails me, I want to share my story, despite how raw and exposed writing this makes me feel. This is to raise funds to help my family overcome my cancer diagnosis.

Just 2 months ago, I was told I had a malignant brain tumor (butterfly glioblastoma), wherein I may die in a few days or if fortunate enough, get to live another few years. A story that I so often just hear, read about or watch before has now become mine - such is the harsh reality of life.

We received the news two weeks before our first baby, Marcus, was born. I was shocked to hear that at 36 years old, I already have a brain tumor the size of a large apple. I was already considered a ‘miracle’ for still being functionally alive.

When I thought it couldn’t be any more heartbreaking, my wife suddenly lost her father just a day before we had our baby. She couldn’t even begin to grieve this loss as she learned that my tumor was inoperable and that only a biopsy and a shunt can be done for me. Our long ICU stay and the two surgeries were barely covered by our insurance. At a time when we were looking forward to build our family, it just felt like everything was falling apart at the same time.

However, we were now given new hope by MD Anderson and I am booked for my third surgical procedure this Friday. I will have an awake craniotomy to try to reduce the size of my tumor before I start radiation/chemotherapy. Any acts of generosity are sincerely and immensely appreciated to help my treatment costs, especially since we would need to travel from Dallas to Houston regularly from now on.

Our hearts will be forever grateful to the family and friends who have supported us during these very trying moments in our life. We are truly thankful for your help, time, effort and patience. I only hope to continue the ‘miracle’ in my life - particularly for the sake of Marcus who is now 3 months old.

….Truly, thank you very much.