Billings Family Fight For Michael

On September 20th, 2018 my family received news that my brother Michael (age 27) was diagnosed with AML, Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He is currently receiving treatment at The Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Everything has happened so fast for my family and it has been extremely hard to process. In just 6 days following my brothers’ diagnosis my mom and my brother Michael were relocated from the University of Chicago Hospital to the world renowned Seattle Children’s Hospital where he will be receiving his chemotherapy treatment. Following successful chemo he will need to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Last week, after weeks of waiting for confirmation, we were informed that I am a match to be his donor.

In order to prepare for our upcoming surgery in December and to surround my brother with support, I will need to travel between school here in Niagara and Seattle each weekend. After speaking with friends and family and gaining a better understanding now of what lies ahead for us, I agreed to set up a Go Fund Me page to help my family get through this challenging time.

The money raised by this campaign will help replace lost income for my mom who will be in Seattle for a minimum of 6 months. It will also go a long way in helping to cover living expenses incurred by my mom who will be staying in Seattle with Michael. Additionally, it will be used towards helping with the cost of flights for me from Niagara to Seattle and back to school to support the preparation required prior to our surgery in December. Last but not least, these funds will go towards allowing my sisters to travel there for support of our brother, and to allow my family to be together around the holidays.

Just a little background on our amazing brother Michael for those unaware. Michael was born with Schwachman/Diamond Syndrome. This syndrome is chronic, meaning lifelong. It impacts every organ in his body. SDS patients’ organs, present like organs of a sixty year old. Children born with SDS are sick from birth. Lots of them are much sicker than Michael ever was throughout his younger years. SDS will almost always include an AML diagnosis at some point in their life. Michael had many years of good health. Unfortunately, now the time has come. It is Michaels’ time to fight this cancer and together, with the support of my amazing family, and the help from anyone willing, we are going to beat it.

My brother Michael has had a lifelong love of hockey and it is the one thing that he is looking forward to getting back to. Michael is a goalie and as many of my hockey peeps know, you have to be truly fearless to get between those pipes. Michael has never wavered, he has proven to be fearless both on and off the ice his entire life. This is a new game for Mike, and with the support of our family and friends I know he will be the “crusader” and fighter he needs to be during his biggest challenge yet.

Thank you for supporting my hero and our family,

Jack