Love Like a Savage

In the clearing stands a lover
And a Savage by his name
And he carries the remainders
Of every love that laid him down
And cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
“I am leaving, I am leaving”
But the Savage Love still remains

I am inspired by the actions and character of my brother, Michael Savage to challenge each and every person I can possibly reach to Love Like a Savage.

I met my brother 17 years ago when I was an adolescent debacle and he was a post-adolescent debacle and soon to be the young father to my currently intimidatingly mature nephew.  After many overlooked, and potentially necessary, therapy sessions I was able to overcome his seemingly selfish acts of procreation with my loving and innocent sister and I embarked on discovery of the strength of Savage Love.

When our younger sister, Lauren, was 12 her father was taken by cancer, the night of his passing…Michael drove overnight from South Carolina with my older sister to be in Houston with Lauren. Shortly after that Michael resigned from his job in South Carolina that moved them up there a years prior, and moved his young family back to Houston to provide love, support and eventually residency for Lauren.

When my uncle, my mother’s older brother, was fighting in the last stages of HIV sickness and eventually passed away, Michael was a cornerstone of our family and provided help, support and even the passionate and loving eulogy that each and every one of us wanted and needed.

Michael has opened his home to countless family members and friends with complete disregard the physical space or financial burden… He never wavered or hesitated once when someone was in need…even when it was my turn, it was as though he excited about it. 

When my grandmother, my fathers mother, was having some health issues Michael almost instantly had the family moved into the home that happen to be available next door. This was an older home and had seen the hard side of a few renters previous to the Savages. And Michael recognized the value of the premium location next to the grandparents who just so happen to have a serious problem with spoiling their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He executed a purchase and the Savages planted their flag.

It’s a modest home (2 BR / 1 Bath - 2 adults / 4 kids) and they as a family have worked, when time and finances permitted to expand on it and create a place that is truly welcoming and used frequently to host functions for the kids, community, family and fellowship. A lot of functions…

Michael and Heather, with kids, spent years working with local area Pregnancy Resource Center to help council, coach and support the young soon to be parents. He and her both since have worked with their church familys and friends to establish a variety of mentoring groups, bible stuides and mission trips over the last decade working primarly with the youth. As a passionate and unrelenting youth pastor Michael provided a path to salvation for coutless young lost teenagers and children. 

When Michael is not starting a sports alliance for the Harbor Boys and Girls home  , or walking from Houston to the State Capital  to share love and support to those in need, or coaching / spectating / officiating / scorekeeping / etc at his children’s MANY athletic events all over Texas he is searching for a new way to share his love to as many people as possible with his home. A basecamp for love, if you will.


This home is where Michael will spend his remaining days / weeks / months in hospice care after spending almost a year fighting with cancer that has aggressively overtaken his body. Michael and Heather have spent the last 4 months in hospitals from Houston to Chicago…seeking specialists who were optimistic and a confident in their capability to save Michael from this siege. Two ‘hopeful’ surgeries, one with a 6 week stay in Chicago, later Michael attempted a strongly suggested visit home to break from Chemo treatments and spend some quality time with his family during the week leading up to Father’s Day.

After a few hours home, Michael checked into the ER with low blood pressure and high heart rate, possible infection and full blockage of his intestine. After a few days of stabilizing procedures he again attempted to go home on Thursday, and Friday morning he was checked into the ICU at Memorial Hermann downtown Houston.

Wednesday this week, it was made clear to Michael that he was not expected to live to August based on his current condition and the aggressive nature of his cancer. The doctors worked with Michael to determine the best possible scenarios for the remainder of his life and after posing the questions ‘In the last 4 months of your life, how many days have you spent with your children?’ to which he could not answer…for many reasons.

I have visited Michael twice in the hospital since his diagnosis in September.

The first time was in November and when I saw Michael I immediately realized he was ready to fight Cancer like a damn Warrior…I knew it like a truth, he knew it. While I was visiting him I a Cancer specialist doctor visited with Michael and Heather in one of the heaviest conversations I have ever witnessed. I sat there as the doctor ask Michael if he had ever engaged in any illicit behavior or exposed himself to any chemicals outside the norm and he answered no to all of it, literally nothing. Then he asked if there was family history of cancer, and after much research there isn’t. Then there was a moment of stillness in the room, like a firearm just went off in a room abruptly…the doctor cleared his throat and slowly says, “We have to worry about the children.” I was breathless and all of my attention went to my brother’s face as he stared stunned from a gurney at my sister with her head in her hands. I was paralyzed physically, mentally and emotionally by the gravity of the situation. He was ready to fight, but could not conceive the thought of his family possibly having to.

The second time I visited Michael was Wednesday afternoon in the ICU and for a brief few minutes between conversations with nurses and hospital staff I sat beside him completely unprepared after hours and hours of me contemplating this conversation and came up empty…I didn't know how to, what to, etc…I couldn't say a damn thing. Michael looked directly at me and nodded his head once and said to me, “It’s okay…” I left minutes later as the nurse was preparing for her procedure with him overwhelmed with emotion as I stumbled to my car in the parking garage and cried thinking about everything I should have said to the man who provided me with support, inspiration and accountability on my journey to becoming an honorable man.

Today we started to prepare Mike’s home for his hospice care. My father has donated his mechanical bed for Michael to use instead of a bulky hospital / hospice bed. While there I noticed that since the family is recently so distracted with this situation and various family member and friends chipping in where they can to help care for Michael and Heathers children, the house has taken a toll…and needs to be cleaned up prior to his arrival.

Earlier tonight, back at my home,  I was nursing my back  I found myself reflected back to a conversation with Heather about needing to get a table in the corner of the room for mike to have access to stuff and trying to get everything clear from obstructing his movement and accommodating what will probably be a small country of people that will be visiting him.

There are a number of things that have deteriorated in the home due to age and some neglect over the last year…these things are not huge but some are just plain necessary replace, fix or clean to prepare for hospice care to start for anyone.

There is a opportunity that I have identified between now and when Michael is discharged from the hospital, currently assumed that is no sooner than Monday (but could be mid to late next week), that we can get in there and get to work to get it organized, clean, clutter free, decorated and filled with LOVE for his arrival.

I am not a person who is comfortable asking anyone for favors or help…I am a legit fiend for validation and accomplishment, most of the time to a fault. But this is not about me.

I am asking you to help us fill Michael’s & Heather’s home with an abundance of LOVE.

I am personally setting everything in my life aside to accomplish this.

I currently have the commitment from my personal friend Jason Francis who is willing to team up with me to do what we can with what time and money we have available.

I also currently have the commitment from Josh Ashley, personal friend, that his painting company Fresh Coat of League City  is donating available materials and equipment immediately to pain the entire house.

I was informed this evening that we have several volunteers that are planning to show up tomorrow and all weekend to help however possible to get some basic stuff knocked out.

Some of the objectives that we could use any support in funding or accomplishing:
Cleaning Supplies / Carpet Cleaner / Pressure Washer
Painting Help / Prepping / moving furniture and such
Organizing and installing shelving and storage
Replacing Filters / Lighting / Fixtures / Fans
Plants / Flowers / Decor
Desk for Michael next to bed


Some of the items that we would like to address if funding is achieved:
Update / repair faucets and bathroom fixtures
Replace doors / knobs
Fix any plumbing / drywall issues
Finish extended DIY third room
Build / Repair laundry room / garage living area 


With a surplus of funding and hopefully time:
Replace / Repair old AC unit that is struggling right now
Replace / Repair flooring
Replace / Update any broken or old Appliances and Furniture

I am sorry for the lengthy and probably all over the place journey to get to the point of asking for your love in form of support in this time of need for a good man. I could go on and on with volumes of stories that solidify Michael as a good man, deserving the reciprocation of love in at least a fragment of what he produced.

I may have some information backwards or presented improperly, I tried my best to stick to the relevant nuggets and keep it consistent with the information that I know to be fact / truth, but I am also trying to get this out to the public / friends / networks with great urgency and not spending cycles getting confirmation on some of the details from everyone. I hope that you can understand and overlook any miscommunication, grammatical error or inconsistent details.


For more information about Michael & Heather Savage and other avenues of support:
 - GoFundMe
 - Facebook - Harbor Sports Alliance 
 - Facebook - Michael & Heather Savage
 - Our Walk For Him


Donation Rewards:
$25 - Team Savage Strong Sticker

$50 - Team Savage Strong T-Shirt

$100 - Pair of Team Savage Strong T-Shirts

$250 - Pick color for any room in house

$500 - A Free Car Wash from the Savage Kids for the Year, thats one car wash before 2016...maybe two depending on your car.

$1,000 - A replica swoard from the movie Braveheart

$2,500 - Pick any tattoo for Michael Rubash to get (I pick the placement)

$3,500 - Local Houston Street Artist NOG original piece on reclaimed wood - 1 of 2 - Story goes, James Harden owns the othe one (not confirmed) :

$5,000 - An Autographed TOOL band poster from their concert in Houston June 2010 - signed and numbered 98/250 framed with ticket stub

$10,000 - A Houston Astros inspired custom S10 with too many mods to list:

More donation / support rewards will be added as they become available...please check back or subscribe for updates. 

Please take a minute and SHARE the LOVE with anyone you know that might be interested.

If you might be interested in donating items that would help motivate large sum donations, please feel free to contact me using the link in the top right of this page. 

If you have any questions or feedback plese feel free to contact me using the link in the top right of this page.