Let me first start off by saying how incredibly humbled we all are. Our family has never been more thankful for everyone who has provided us with their outpouring of love, prayers, kind thoughts and words, and everything in between. Our family has already been blessed beyond measure, so it’s incredibly difficult for us to ask anything else at this point; however, that is where we are at.

Meet Michael! At 66, he is the unwavering patriarch of our family—a devoted husband, father to four adult children, and the world's best grandpa to twelve incredible grandchildren. He’s the kind of man who is always quick with a joke and knows how to make you laugh. He’s the first one to lend a hand and the one who makes every holiday feel magical. He has always been our rock, and now, he needs us to be his.

This summer, our family was shaken by a Stage 3 diagnosis of esophageal and stomach cancer. It’s an aggressive fight, but Michael is facing it with his characteristic resilience brought on through his humor, wit, strength, and above all else, his faith in God. His comprehensive treatment plan is rigorous and filled with hope: eight scheduled rounds of chemotherapy followed by major, life-saving surgery. His doctors are optimistic that this plan can lead to a full cure, giving him the chance to watch his grandchildren grow up.

The biggest barrier to his recovery isn't his spirit or the medical plan—it’s a massive financial hurdle. To give him the best possible chance at a lasting recovery and to ensure the cancer does not return, his protocol requires a specialized, critical medication. With a series of treatments required, this impossible cost has become the difference between a full, hopeful recovery and an uncertain future. Our family is doing everything we can, but this amount is simply too much to bear on our own.

Every donation is not just funding a prescription; it is funding more time for Michael. It’s helping us to prolong time with our father and ensure we can create lasting memories. This would mean more time with the backbone of our family, our mother and his wife, Sandy. It would also help them to share time enjoying retirement together. Along with his wife and children, Michael could enjoy more time teaching his grandchildren how to envelop themselves in nature through activities like fishing, camping, walking in the woods, and various conservation activities, as well as explore their creative depths through storytelling adventure games. More milestones, graduations, and wedding dances with his grandchildren. Our dad has so much life left to live.

Please help us lift this financial weight so he can focus entirely on fighting and healing. We are asking for your help to ensure he receives this necessary treatment and gets to stay with us for the many years he deserves. During this Christmas season, we humbly ask you to please consider donating and sharing his story widely. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for giving our father, Michael, a genuine fighting chance.