Michelle's Medical Fund

Michelle was recently diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer with bone metastasis in March 2016. After diagnosis, Michelle had 2 major surgeries. The first being a Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) on her lungs her lungs, and the secong being a full femur length titanium rod in her left leg to help the deteriorating bone. After surgeries, Michell began her treatment plan with physical therapy, followed by chemo therapy and immunotherapy. Her treatment plan was to try and get her cancer to a maintenance level, but currently the maintenance level has not been reached. In March 2017, Michelle began to have difficulty breathing. The cancer began to create fluid, which was building up in her pleural space of her lungs. Michelle had to have surgical drains installed to help give her relief by draining off fluid as it began to build up inside. Recently Michelle began to feel like she was getting a cold, and when we took her to the emergency room, she was told she had been infected with Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Due to this infection, she has not been able to keep her chemo therapy regime, and has been on IV antibiotics. Once the infection is gone, Michelle will undergo a rigorus chemo therapy treatment plan, which will limit her future activity. 

We are very grateful to have good medical insurance, and never thought we would incrue expenses outside our coverage, but in additon to co-pays and catastrophic caps, other medical expenses/incidentals have occured outside what our insurance covers. In addition, expenses for future care will continue. 

It is important to our family that everyone knows how any funds received will be used. All funds will go to pay outside covered medical expenses only, and any palliative care Michelle may need.


We thank you all for taking the time to read Michelle's story.