Steven Michael Medical Expenses

As a friend of Steven Michael, I can attest to his kindness and compassion for others and the world around him. Our $8,000 goal is based on the need to buy Steven time and start a life-saving medication currently not covered by his insurance and also to cover his mounting travel expenses to see specialists in Eugene, 120 miles from his home in Coos Bay, Oregon. Funds will also help with general living expenses as he is currently unable to work and needs to focus on becoming well. The life-saving medication is $2000 a month. This medication would allow him to step down from a dangerously high dose of prednisone. The prednisone is currently keeping his Temporal Arteritis or Giant Cell Arteritis in check, but it is a drug that should never be used long term, and at this dosage, it is damaging his organs and body. When Steven let me know he planned to try to step off the prednisone without the other medication his doctor prescribed due to cost and his insurance denying coverage, thereby risking a recurrence of his TA which could result in blindness, stroke, or even death it became clear it was time to ask for help. Steven is a humble man and asking for monetary support is not easy for him. Your contributions will allow Steven to begin healing while his sister and medical advocate file another appeal (the fourth) and pursue suggestions to reach out to local representatives and the drug company for assistance. He needs to step off the prednisone before it does any more damage and should not have to gamble his vision and potentially his life to do so. I know many of you follow Steven's work as a landscape photographer and have benefited from the beauty he captures and shares freely on his photography page. Perhaps you've purchased one of the beautiful stones he hand paints as fundraisers for various causes or have read his blogs documenting historical happenings in our region and all along the Oregon Coast; all of which he does purely for his love of it and shares freely. When I spoke with Steven about setting this up he said he was humbled to be "on the receiving end" of such a fundraiser as he has always been on the other end, donating one of his forms of artwork to help others. It's our turn to step up and help him through this challenging time. Please consider donating what you can no matter how small.

If you are uncomfortable using gofundme please consider mailing a check to:

Steven Michael

1008 Montgomery AVE

Coos Bay, OR 97420

or venmo @StevenMichael-smith

Below are Steven's own words describing the life-threatening medical emergency he has faced over the last three months.

One does not usually prepare for an unexpected life-altering event. I sure didn’t.

On December 27th, 2022, my life changed without notable warning signs. I was diagnosed with (Temporal Arteritis)-or-(Giant Cell Arteritis).

(TA) is life-threatening disease, with an unknown cause., and an unknown cure. (TA) is swelling of the lining of small and medium blood vessels near the temples, including the superficial temporal arteries. Other affected arteries include the carotid artery, which supplies blood to the brain, eyes, face, and neck.

Prior to the 27th of December, I was experiencing a serious of headaches. Such headaches didn’t alarm me because I get sinus headaches often and so I assumed this headache was no different. However, after eight days of no relief from the headache, I decided to seek medical attention. I went to Urgent Care. By this time, a small oval-shaped painful lump was forming on my left temple. Urgent Care wasn’t to alarmed and said I was suffering from an acute-migraine. They gave me a shot in the butt and said I’ll feel better in a few hours. I went home and went to bed. Hours later I woke in severe pain. My head was on fire, my scalp hurt, I had a fluctuating fever, and my vision was off, especially in my left eye.

I wrote down the symptoms, took a picture of the oval lump on my temple, then sent the information to three doctor buddies of mine and to my older sister…who is a medical researcher.

ALL were very concerned and was told to go to the hospital immediately. ER put me on a high dose of prednisone, 60mg…the only known drug that stops the progression of the (TA). ER doctor said I was likely hours away from going blind and twelve hours away from a stroke, aneurysm, heart attack and/or even death.

Two weeks later, all blood levels and inflammation returned to normal readings. They lowered the prednisone from 60mg down to 40mg. But, unfortunately, two days later the (TA) symptoms returned and they put me back up to the 60mg. I have been on the 60mg of prednisone ever since. Unfortunately, the side-affects from the high dosage is wreaking havoc on my body.

I’ve been to several doctor’s appointments including a rheumatologist in Eugene. The rheumatologist doctor prescribed the only FDA approved drug to treat (TA), to replace the prednisone. (Though prednisone is holding off the progression of the (TA), the body can’t stay on such a high dose for long periods of time.)

A major problem is…insurance won’t cover the expense of needed drug. In my case my insurance is OHP…Oregon Health Plan…aka Obamacare. We’ve appealed multiple times over the past few months without success.

In the meantime, I’ve lost a little under forty pounds. My muscle tone is gone. My hair has been falling out. My joints ache severely in a rotating manner…some days I can’t walk, other days I can’t use my arms, or bend my knees, or move my neck. The palms of my hands and bottoms of my feet are “burnt” and have pealed multiple layers away. My legs feel sunburnt, but they are not. My esophagus and intestines burn.

I am taking an arsenal of drugs to deal with various side-effects from the prednisone. The prednisone dosage was also sending my blood sugar into diabetic levels.

Fatigue took over. My energy was nonexistent. I became zombie-like in movement. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. I couldn’t stay awake.

Then eating and drinking became a problem. I couldn’t keep food down, then liquids wouldn’t stay down. I couldn’t keep the medication down.

My diet was reduced to home-canned bone broth, unsweetened homemade applesauce and sips of water. My body became very dehydrated and hungry. I’ve gone several times now to the ER for dehydration and to receive fluids.

During the last ER visit for fluids, nothing was improving, and a new system surfaced. I experienced sharp stabbing pain near the stomach. Tests revealed an inflamed gallbladder. That night, March 20th, I had emergency surgery to remove the gallbladder.

Since surgery, I have regained the ability to eat solid foods and keep it down. I’ve also been able to drink liquids instead of sipping. Though the gallbladder became an issue, it did not resolve the (TA) diagnosis.

This week, Insurance denied the medication again. My body can’t handle this anymore. So, a new plan had to come in.

Left with no other choice, I decided to reduce the prednisone dosage from 60mg to 40mg… and see what happens. Fingers crossed the (TA) doesn't return.

If successful, in a week, they’ll drop the prednisone dose to 30mg. If not, I get bumped back up to 60mg and we appeal OHP’s denials again.

The Oregon’s Health System (OHP) has made it very clear…they would rather avoid the expense of the only FDA approved life-saving drug that I need, in the hopes that I just fade away and die.

OHP insurance had left me with no other option. OHP is forcing me to spin the revolving cylinder and see what happens. Possible blindness, a stroke, and/or a slow poisoning death are my current options. I either remain on the high dose of prednisone and watch myself wither away, or I take myself off the prednisone and risk going blind or having a stroke and dying. These odds are not in my favor…but at this time I have no other choice. Please pray for a miracle.

I truly welcome any and all prayers, and I do believe in the power of prayer!!! I welcome any kind words of encouragement, expert advice, and support. I know staying positive and optimistic is important to survival.

I can’t even begin to express my gratitude and thanks to the circle of friends, and family that have been with me through this roulette-roller coaster. I owe my life to you guys!! One can’t go wrong with such a team of friends which includes a Dr. of internal medicine; an ER doctor; a disease pathologist; two Nutrition Specialists; a wound care specialist; two naturalists; a medical researcher; a team of prayer warriors; a team of transportation drivers; Family…my older sister and my mom.

I honestly don’t believe I would still be alive without their wisdom, advice, and support these past 3 months!

In addition, some dear friends of mine have asked if they could start a go-fund-me for me. I am not opposed to such help…and am humbled by the suggestion.

In truth, I haven’t been able to work in the past three months. The expenses accumulating, and expenses to see doctors three hours away has been a financial concern/burden…especially if this continues much longer. (I believe they will be working on that here shortly.)

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

-Steven Michael

P.S. if you’d like to send a note of encouragement, I will thoroughly enjoy get-well smiles and encouragement. It has been hard to not be able to get out and take pictures. I also haven't painted any rocks, and the variety of projects I want to accomplish has been on hold for the past three months. Staying positive is a challenge, but I am doing okay to stay optimistic.

My mailing is;

Steven Michael

1008 Montgomery AVE

Coos Bay, OR 97420