CHRIS BATTLES LUNG CANCER
Donation protected
CHRIS' BATTLE AGAINST LUNG CANCER . . . Chris and Courtney Michaelsen are 33 and 32, got married in 2016, and are expecting their first child, Logan, at the end of November. In August Chris was diagnosed with Stage IV Non Small Cell Adenocarcinoma. Yes, that’s Lung Cancer -- currently treatable, but not curable. This was a shock because Chris has never smoked. They quickly found out that it is becoming more common among 20 – 40 year-old non-smokers.
Since the diagnosis they have had excellent care by a great many health professionals. They are continuing to build their healthcare team with talented, caring specialists, and the support of family and friends. To date, their insurance has been good, so they have not accumulated massive medical bills. However, they have been unable to continue full time employment with the amount of time they are committing to healing, fighting cancer, and growing a healthy baby boy.
I have started this Go Fund Me page at the request of friends and family looking for a way to help this amazing young couple. Chris and Courtney have always been there for others and now we can be there for them. I believe if we reduce the stress they are experiencing trying to cover all their monthly expenses, they will be able to focus on Chris’ cancer battle and the arrival of their baby boy in November.
Chris is an only child who grew up in Simi Valley and Santa Clarita. He earned an art degree from College of the Canyons. He specializes in graphic design and comic book illustrations. Here is a picture of Chris working on a Santa's Village window at Janss Mall last November.
Courtney is an only child who grew up in Mission Viejo and Moorpark. She earned her art degree from Moorpark College. She specializes in sculpture, murals, and animal portraiture. Courtney recently painted murals throughout a Camarillo pet shop including these horses.
Their favorite holiday is Halloween. They met in 2010, working at a Halloween Store. Chris and Courtney got engaged on Halloween 2015 and got married the day before Halloween in 2016. Their birthdays are also one day apart!
Together they work caring for animals – alpacas, horses, and a miniature donkey. They have a menagerie of their own – reptiles, chickens, parrots, a cat, and their 15 year old dog, Zoe. They share their animals with others with educational, hands-on presentations at schools, summer camps, libraries, senior centers, and birthday parties. They also host shopping mall kid’s clubs bringing fun and safe entertainment to children throughout Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Because they love giving these presentations, they are still trying to continue working whenever possible.
If you are wondering about Chris' green hair, it's left over from Comic Con where they attended as The Joker and Harley Quinn. It has made them very recognizable through all of their doctors appointments, diagnostic tests, and hospital stays! It also represents how "all in" their commitment is to everything they do, from costumes, to fighting cancer!
In a recent Facebook post Chris said:
“Modern medicine alone cannot battle something like cancer. But, an assault from all sides makes one heck of a fight. Besides innovative medical treatment, we have age, a new cancer fighting diet, prayer, a positive attitude, and the greatest incentive – our baby Logan, motivating us. Life is about challenges. Everything happens for a reason. You do not go through something like lung cancer and come out the other end the same person. You come out as a greater, stronger, and better person. This is exactly what this journey will do. The news is not great, but like everything else we do, we will make it amazing!”
Chris and Courtney have started a YouTube channel to keep friends and family updated on their journey. They hope it will help viewers who are going through difficult life experiences, stay positive. Here is the link to C & C Challenge on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0ArY_JwKM0&feature=share
We will post updates to this page when available.
We thank you for your prayers and positive support.
Since the diagnosis they have had excellent care by a great many health professionals. They are continuing to build their healthcare team with talented, caring specialists, and the support of family and friends. To date, their insurance has been good, so they have not accumulated massive medical bills. However, they have been unable to continue full time employment with the amount of time they are committing to healing, fighting cancer, and growing a healthy baby boy.
I have started this Go Fund Me page at the request of friends and family looking for a way to help this amazing young couple. Chris and Courtney have always been there for others and now we can be there for them. I believe if we reduce the stress they are experiencing trying to cover all their monthly expenses, they will be able to focus on Chris’ cancer battle and the arrival of their baby boy in November.
Chris is an only child who grew up in Simi Valley and Santa Clarita. He earned an art degree from College of the Canyons. He specializes in graphic design and comic book illustrations. Here is a picture of Chris working on a Santa's Village window at Janss Mall last November.
Courtney is an only child who grew up in Mission Viejo and Moorpark. She earned her art degree from Moorpark College. She specializes in sculpture, murals, and animal portraiture. Courtney recently painted murals throughout a Camarillo pet shop including these horses.
Their favorite holiday is Halloween. They met in 2010, working at a Halloween Store. Chris and Courtney got engaged on Halloween 2015 and got married the day before Halloween in 2016. Their birthdays are also one day apart!
Together they work caring for animals – alpacas, horses, and a miniature donkey. They have a menagerie of their own – reptiles, chickens, parrots, a cat, and their 15 year old dog, Zoe. They share their animals with others with educational, hands-on presentations at schools, summer camps, libraries, senior centers, and birthday parties. They also host shopping mall kid’s clubs bringing fun and safe entertainment to children throughout Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Because they love giving these presentations, they are still trying to continue working whenever possible.
If you are wondering about Chris' green hair, it's left over from Comic Con where they attended as The Joker and Harley Quinn. It has made them very recognizable through all of their doctors appointments, diagnostic tests, and hospital stays! It also represents how "all in" their commitment is to everything they do, from costumes, to fighting cancer!
In a recent Facebook post Chris said:
“Modern medicine alone cannot battle something like cancer. But, an assault from all sides makes one heck of a fight. Besides innovative medical treatment, we have age, a new cancer fighting diet, prayer, a positive attitude, and the greatest incentive – our baby Logan, motivating us. Life is about challenges. Everything happens for a reason. You do not go through something like lung cancer and come out the other end the same person. You come out as a greater, stronger, and better person. This is exactly what this journey will do. The news is not great, but like everything else we do, we will make it amazing!”
Chris and Courtney have started a YouTube channel to keep friends and family updated on their journey. They hope it will help viewers who are going through difficult life experiences, stay positive. Here is the link to C & C Challenge on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0ArY_JwKM0&feature=share
We will post updates to this page when available.
We thank you for your prayers and positive support.
Organizer and beneficiary
Sandy Smith
Organizer
Simi Valley, CA
Courtney Michaelsen
Beneficiary
