Let's Help Michelle!

Michelle Alves is our friend. She has been since we were kids. And she is going through the fight of her life.

Michelle was recently diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the parotid gland... or cancer of the salivary gland. She has already had one surgery and she will undergo a six week course of radiation therapy. Her care will be followed through Hartford Hospital’s Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center and her radiation will be done at their Avon office, which is convenient to her home in Bloomfield.

Before she can begin radiation therapy, Michelle will need to have two teeth extracted and possibly root canal therapy. When her radiation begins, Michelle will lose her sense of taste and, therefore, her appetite. She has been told that the radiation will burn and she will have the same sensation as when you burn your mouth on hot food.

Michelle’s cancer is Stage IV and malignant. While she does have good medical insurance, she does not have dental insurance or disability insurance.

Our friend is scared. She has way too much to worry about and we would like to help relieve one of her biggest stressors… money. We don’t want her to worry about how she will pay for the dental work she needs, or even her household bills. We don’t want her to worry about how she will put food on her table, because she will not be able to work for a while. We don’t want her to worry about anything money related while she undergoes treatment and recuperation.

Let’s help Michelle!

We are asking that all of Michelle’s friends and family members rally together to help relieve some of her stress. Stress that will not be good for her healing process.

Please consider making a donation to help defray some of the costs she is facing. Please give as generously as you can… whether it’s $10, $100, or $1,000. Every penny will help. And please share this page with your friends and family.

Most importantly, please send your prayers and healing thoughts.

We thank you… and Michelle thanks you, too!

Amy Beckstein Lemire
                              Ann Cannistraro
                                                       Mary Kalencik

P.S. If you have any questions, there is a link to Mary's email above. Thank you, again!