Please help support Carl and Melissa!

Hi, My name is Laura, a long time friend of Carl and Melissa Boehm. This past week has been a nightmare for them. On Wednesday (Carl’s birthday), Carl had a seizure and was taken to the ER. They scanned his brain and found a mass the size of a peach in his right frontal lobe. His brain was swelling severely, causing extreme speech, motor and cognitive deficits. On 4/7 he had a craniotomy where they attempted to move the tumor. They were not able to remove all of it because he would have been paralyzed. Today, 4/9 (Easter Sunday), they were told the tumor is cancerous. Carl is recovering from the surgery, but neither of them can work right now. He requires 24/7 assistance and Melissa needs to be there with him! Let’s support them through this! They have a long road ahead including chemo, radiation, rehab, along with everyday bills and expenses. Anything you can contribute to lighten the load on them would be so appreciated. I know there are so many that love and support them! Let’s do this! Thank you, in advance, for your support!!

Update 4/25

Carl is healing well from surgery still but his chemo/radiation journey is about to begin. This week he sees the Oncologist where they will do his simulation and narrow down specifics regarding his treatment. The current proposition for radiation is 30 rounds. This means Melissa will have to take him 5 days/week for 6 weeks. Carl is not allowed to drive until this round of treatment is over and they reevaluate. His official diagnosed as of now is Astrocytoma with IDH mutation grade 2 or a Grade 2 glioma. They are hopeful that the remaining tumor will respond well to treatment, but because of the nature of this tumor and the way it intertwines with the brain cells the tumor could grow back in the future and he would have to do this all over again and again. He will have to be monitored for the rest of his life. Their insurance is causing them many problems and the social worker has told them that he doesn’t qualify for state aid/insurance. Melissa is looking into second opinions and options, but as it stands, they are in financial distress and trying to figure out how to stay afloat while missing so much work for treatments. Keep the prayers coming and please support if you can!

UPDATE 5/18/2023

Carl began treatment today! Carl and Melissa have a tough 6 weeks ahead, but we know they will make it through with determination and faith! Carl has begun a 6 week treatment plan of both chemo and radiation. There will be good days and bad days, but we need to rally around them! Pray for complete healing and peace throughout these treatments! The prayers are working!! Keep them coming!!

UPDATE 6/26/23

Carl’s brain cancer update:

Carl (and Melissa) have been going to radiation every weekday for almost 6 weeks now. While Carl’s attitude to fight this is positive and unwavering, this has taken an enormous toll on both of them. Carl is barely able to work and Melissa continues to miss work for his appointments. He has been treated at Beaumont throughout this experience UNTIL TODAY.

They decided to get a second opinion from a brain specialist at UofM. They were much more upfront with them, but Carl and Melissa received devastating news today. His cancer is terminal.

Melissa said:

“This dr gave us more information that Beaumont has yet. It’s the highest form of grade 2, it will definitively mutate and it’s terminal . 6 months of chemo will give him 10-12 years before it comes back, if he opts out of chemo it’s 8-10 years before it comes back. You can only do 2 rounds of radiation on your life so he will have to do it again and another craniotomy eventually”

He will finish the radiation on July 5th and the rest of his treatment will be at UofM from here on out. The brain specialist has already scheduled his follow up MRI for 4 weeks after radiation ends. While this was not the news they wanted, they are thankful to have found a doctor that is knowledgeable, honest and upfront about his prognosis. They have been treated very poorly at Beaumont and kept in the dark for far too long! After radiation, Carl will begin chemotherapy for at least 6 months.

The bills are mounting and they are struggling. They were able to use the previously donated money to pay a couple months of rent upfront, along with car payments and groceries. Funds are low again and they need our support. Please continue to pray for strength, peace, healing for Carl and Melissa. What they are going through is unimaginable. If you’re able to share and donate, any little bit helps!!!