Michael’s fight against cancer

Hello, my name is Michael and my story started in April 2022. My wife and I were expecting our first child and a few weeks after he was born, I began having pain and stiffness in my lower back and left hip. I sought the help of chiropractors and orthopedics and tried to get an MRI for almost two months but my insurance would not approve the MRI for almost two months. During that time my condition worsened and by June 5th i was unable to walk. I went to the ER and had a CT and Ultrasound but both showed no structural damage. At this point, I was on crutches and on July 3rd after I got out of the shower my crutches slipped out from under me and i ended up putting all my weight on my left leg and broke my femur at the neck in the hip area. I was rushed to the ER because of how excruciating the pain was. At the ER, they ran some tests and did a MRI to verify that my broken bone and what caused it and they determined that this was not just a broken bone and transferred me to Vanderbilt University Hospital to have a partial hip replacement and to begin the process of a cancer diagnosis. The shock of being told you have cancer is something your never prepared for. I knew i could fight whatever I had but it would take time, money and physical and mental toll on my body.

I ended up spending 16 days at Vanderbilt as they could not specifically identify the type of Lymphoma that I had as my lesions were not specific to my bone marrow or blood but in my bones and kidneys. In late July 2022, my oncologist gave me a diagnosis of Stage 4 Aggressive Diffuse Large B Cel Lymphoma and I would have 6 treatments over the next 5 months that consist of 5 days in the hospital each treatment in order to be in remission and hopefully cancer free.

Before I broke my hip I was in the process of transitioning jobs to a new company and my insurance was changing before my treatments started. The cost of 16 days on the hospital for my hip and diagnosis were costly and my additional 30 days of treatment are just as expensive.

Keri (my wife and best friend) and I are not ones to ask for help and I have gone back and forth on creating a go fund me to help with medical bills and groceries during this time. We would appreciate any support as well as any prayers that are sent our way

Thank you,

The Balderman’s