Support Mike and Melissa's Transplant Journey

Go Fund me for Mike Conlon

Dear Friends, Mike is a Match!

I am Mike's mom, Mindy and here is our story.

We need to raise funds for Mike to be able to take the leave and care he needs to fulfill his place as a living donor.

As most of you already know, Mike's younger sister Melissa was diagnosed with Stage 4, inoperable Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). This is a rare and aggressive cancer with rapid growth. Therefore, time is of the essence.

Melissa has been battling this cancer since November of 2023, she has had a year of therapies and procedures at Dana Farber Cancer Center. This October, Melissa and her family (fiancé Brian and Cat Simba) moved from Newport RI to Houston Texas to have further therapies at MD Anderson. Amazingly, this November, a year to the date of her cancer diagnosis she officially became “Listed” for a liver transplant at Houston Methodist. While she is on the deceased donor list, we held a campaign for a living donor donation. She is very loved, multiple selfless people signed up to be evaluated to become possible donors, including her siblings.

Mike was chosen as the best 1st candidate to be evaluated. He and his wife Kate flew to Texas a week before Christmas for 2 ½ days of an extensive evaluation process and testing. A few days after Christmas, Mike got the call that he is indeed a donor match with Melissa!

We are so proud of Mike for his incredible sacrifice to his sister. He will be giving Melissa a portion of his liver. This act of love and bravery will give Melissa a new chance on Life! We raised a hero!

Mike is a protective and loving big brother. You get lost in his hugs; you feel safe. Mike is a reliable, loving husband to his wife Kate and an amazing Dad to his son, Jaxon (he will be 6 soon). Mike is always there for his friends and coworkers (his other family) He’s made so many close and trusted friends throughout his own journey in life as a Firefighter. He will go out of his way to help anyone. We all love him so much and as Jax said to me the other night “I am scared, but I know my dad is a hero and he is going to save Auntie Max with his liver”

Both Mike and Kate have made their home recently in Seekonk, MA with their son Jaxon and their two dogs Charlie and Rebel.

They will have to leave Jax and the pets at home. Your support will help with the costs that they will incur both, maintaining their home in Seekonk and settling up a new temporary home in Houston.

Melissa’s insurance is covering Mike's evaluation process, surgery, hospital stay, after care and any procedures pertaining to the liver donation.

Why we need the GFM

Insurance doesn’t cover travel, accommodations, rental car, gas, food and some of the later aftercare. There is a lot of planning to do.

Mike has flown to Houston TX already for his medical evaluation.

Mike must fly down at the end of January for his pre-admission testing.

Mike needs to live in Texas from the end of January until about March 8th

We need to rent a family size house or Airbnb for that time.

Our family will fly down for surgery and be caregivers afterward, this means Kate must stay for Mike. Kim and I need to stay for Melissa (we will also rotate down to Texas for aftercare. Something we had to agree to do (with the transplant teams) for at least one-month post-transplant to help Brian, especially if a caregiver gets sick.

There will always be a rotation of people, to be a caregiver for both Melissa and Michael post-transplant. We will stay at the house we rent, that is also the place Mike will be recovering.

Flights to Texas from RI.

Melissa’s sister Kim has helped save her life so far with her unending dedication to providing healthy and healing meals for Melissa. Kim went part time, for this past year to help take care of Melissa, cook for her, and go to every Chemo treatment, also a hero! She will be taking unpaid leave whenever she goes down to help.

Mike is taking a LOA

Kate, a pediatric nurse in RI, is taking a LOA

Help with bills at home for Mike and Kate since Mike will be gone the entire month of February. Kate most of the month.

Car rental and Gas. We will share as we rotate down.

Food

Hospital parking

Mike must fly back to Houston for post follow-up blood work and CT scans, 3 months, 6 months and a year.

We can’t thank you enough for all the donations into Melissa’s GFM and all your extra help. Melissa wouldn’t be in Texas had it not been for her fundraisers, her work and people behind the scenes that are helping. In a lifetime, I couldn’t express the gratitude and love we feel from everyone around us. Every person has stuck with Melissa and our family, unselfishly. We’ve made new friends and bonded with old friends. It’s almost unbelievable where she is now, from that dark day in November of 23’ to planning a living donor surgery with her brother. We are praying that we get to this date, with no bumps or complications. Keep praying please and God Bless you all.