Support Lauren's Fight Against Cancer

Hi,

My name is Mike Montgomery. I am a husband, father, artist, musician, record label manager, audio engineer and recording studio owner. I have tried to live a life of service and usefulness to others - to always make sure the scales were tipped in favor of lending a hand versus reaching for one. After much self-reflection and encouragement from many close friends, I am now asking for help.

This story is about my wife, Lauren Foster and her battle against Cancer.

Lauren and I met in 2002 while she was still in college. We dated for years, got married, built a life together and did all of the 'responsible' things we thought we should do to prepare for starting a family. We had our son, Colin in late 2019 and were filled with joy as we imagined the life before us. Those dreams were shattered in early 2021 with one phone call: a terrifying diagnosis of breast cancer. We've all known of someone somewhere dealing with something terrible, but until you're actually inside of it, it's impossible to describe how overwhelming it can feel.

With no answers and no guarantees, she started aggressive treatment immediately. Over the last three and a half years I have witnessed her undergo unrelenting courses of chemotherapies, surgeries and radiation treatments, and endure an unbearable amount of pain and suffering. She has not felt 'not sick' a single day since 2021.

Cancer doesn’t just attack your cells: it eats your dreams. It steals your time. It wants to rob your family of their future with you. It wants everything you ever thought you had.

We continue to work our jobs, although we shift everything around the treatment requirements. Our employers, co-workers and my studio clients have been extremely gracious and flexible as they’ve pivoted to meet our requests for absences or last-minute cancellations.

We have a good care team and basic health insurance, but it hasn’t covered travel to specialized cancer centers around the country or untold lost work – that financial burden has been ours.

In spite of her cancer, Lauren fights to provide, care for and nurture our son. She exists to give Colin a chance to thrive. She is determined to be the mom he deserves and I am committed to her in this fight. With your help, we will continue to explore every option as we look towards a future not defined by this disease.

Thank you

-Mike, Lauren and Colin