Help Todd Cleveland Family Fund
Donation protected
My name is Mick Cleveland. I’m asking you to help my brother Todd who was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer on Wednesday March 21st.
Todd just turned 54, he’s been married to his wife Sandy for about 25 years and they are devoted parents to their son Joseph. Other than family, Todd's passions are all forms of music (biggest Van Halen fan), playing drums and Muskie fishing. Over the past 23 years Todd has been self-employed building hand-made Muskie lures. Todd is an artist and a craftsman. If you saw what he builds you would agree.
Over the past 8 years, Todd has suffered 3 episodes of strokes, the affects of which are shown in the middle right side of the MRI pic above. Until his most recent stroke about 24 months ago, he was always able to recover and eventually continue working to help support his family. Unfortunately, the latest stoke affected Todd more profoundly than the previous, leaving him unable to work enough to contribute to his family's financial well-being as he had in the past.
A couple of weekends ago, Todd was experiencing issues with numbness and severe pain in his legs and started dragging his right foot when he walked. Concerned this might be the result of another stroke, his wife Sandy urged him to get in to see a doctor. Todd was hesitant at first because he didn't want to add to their already substantial medical debt and he hoped the issue would eventually get better and just go away. It didn't.
On Wednesday March 21st Todd went to see a doctor. Within the next few hours Todd was diagnosed with a "plum sized" cancerous brain tumor (bottom left in MRI pic above) and his life was changed forever. He called me later that night to tell me about his diagnosis. I was in total shock. I don't remember much of the conversation after I heard the words “brain cancer”. I was able to mumble that I would come and visit him the next day, I hung up the phone and lost it. The next morning after more test and x-rays, Todd learned that he also has cancer in one of his lungs. Turns out the lung cancer had metastasized and was the cause of the cancerous tumor in his brain. On Monday (3/26) Todd had a lung biopsy so they could determine the type of cancer he has in his lung. Using that information, the doctors will have an idea of what they're dealing with in regards to the tumor in his brain. The plan right now is to remove the brain tumor first, with surgery scheduled for April 13th. The risks are high but the alternative is much worse. After he recovers from the brain surgery and is strong enough, Todd will begin treatment for his lung cancer which I believe is radiation and possibly chemo.
Unfortunately, due to Todd's previous medical issues and inability to work much over the past 24 months, Todd and his family currently have about $11,000 in unpaid medical bills, are well behind in their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing the home they have lived in for 20 years to foreclosure. Todd's wife Sandy has worked tirelessly trying to keep their bills paid and their heads above water but the bills and debt have become overwhelming. Making matter worse, Sandy has not accrued any paid time off from her employer as of yet for 2018 so they will lose even more income when she takes time off during Todd's surgeries, driving him to appointments and taking care of him while he's at home.
My brother Todd is a warm, unassuming and humble person who would do anything to help anyone. Todd and his wife Sandy are proud, hard-working people who have never asked for help. Even now when they need it most they are hesitant to ask.
So I’m asking for them.
Please consider a donation of any size to help Todd and his family. Your donation will be used to cover basic living expenses and his portion of current and future medical costs. Your donation will allow Todd to fight for his life without adding more financial stress and worry to an already overwhelming situation.
Thank you for reading this and thank you for considering a donation to help my brother Todd and his family.
Sincerely, Mick Cleveland
Todd just turned 54, he’s been married to his wife Sandy for about 25 years and they are devoted parents to their son Joseph. Other than family, Todd's passions are all forms of music (biggest Van Halen fan), playing drums and Muskie fishing. Over the past 23 years Todd has been self-employed building hand-made Muskie lures. Todd is an artist and a craftsman. If you saw what he builds you would agree.
Over the past 8 years, Todd has suffered 3 episodes of strokes, the affects of which are shown in the middle right side of the MRI pic above. Until his most recent stroke about 24 months ago, he was always able to recover and eventually continue working to help support his family. Unfortunately, the latest stoke affected Todd more profoundly than the previous, leaving him unable to work enough to contribute to his family's financial well-being as he had in the past.
A couple of weekends ago, Todd was experiencing issues with numbness and severe pain in his legs and started dragging his right foot when he walked. Concerned this might be the result of another stroke, his wife Sandy urged him to get in to see a doctor. Todd was hesitant at first because he didn't want to add to their already substantial medical debt and he hoped the issue would eventually get better and just go away. It didn't.
On Wednesday March 21st Todd went to see a doctor. Within the next few hours Todd was diagnosed with a "plum sized" cancerous brain tumor (bottom left in MRI pic above) and his life was changed forever. He called me later that night to tell me about his diagnosis. I was in total shock. I don't remember much of the conversation after I heard the words “brain cancer”. I was able to mumble that I would come and visit him the next day, I hung up the phone and lost it. The next morning after more test and x-rays, Todd learned that he also has cancer in one of his lungs. Turns out the lung cancer had metastasized and was the cause of the cancerous tumor in his brain. On Monday (3/26) Todd had a lung biopsy so they could determine the type of cancer he has in his lung. Using that information, the doctors will have an idea of what they're dealing with in regards to the tumor in his brain. The plan right now is to remove the brain tumor first, with surgery scheduled for April 13th. The risks are high but the alternative is much worse. After he recovers from the brain surgery and is strong enough, Todd will begin treatment for his lung cancer which I believe is radiation and possibly chemo.
Unfortunately, due to Todd's previous medical issues and inability to work much over the past 24 months, Todd and his family currently have about $11,000 in unpaid medical bills, are well behind in their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing the home they have lived in for 20 years to foreclosure. Todd's wife Sandy has worked tirelessly trying to keep their bills paid and their heads above water but the bills and debt have become overwhelming. Making matter worse, Sandy has not accrued any paid time off from her employer as of yet for 2018 so they will lose even more income when she takes time off during Todd's surgeries, driving him to appointments and taking care of him while he's at home.
My brother Todd is a warm, unassuming and humble person who would do anything to help anyone. Todd and his wife Sandy are proud, hard-working people who have never asked for help. Even now when they need it most they are hesitant to ask.
So I’m asking for them.
Please consider a donation of any size to help Todd and his family. Your donation will be used to cover basic living expenses and his portion of current and future medical costs. Your donation will allow Todd to fight for his life without adding more financial stress and worry to an already overwhelming situation.
Thank you for reading this and thank you for considering a donation to help my brother Todd and his family.
Sincerely, Mick Cleveland
Organizer and beneficiary
Michael Cleveland
Organizer
St. Paul, MN
Sandy Cleveland
Beneficiary