Creating Hope for Michelle

I would like to ask my friends and family to read this post about a dear friend of mine who needs prayers and any help possible. I met Michelle when I owned my first dental consulting firm. At that time I was seeking help from a trained, positive and ambitious person to help deliver services to dentists. Michelle walked into my office and my life as I knew it changed. She exuded so much positive energy and excitement. At that time she had 1 child and was looking to get back to work force which would enable her to have some money to help the family and provide some autonomy.
She joined our Werner Consulting team and soared personally and professionally. It was only a short time before she had another baby and a about 2 years later yet another. She was busy!! Her commitment to her family, especially her kids is like no other Mom I have seen.  Because of that we parted ways. Our paths rekindled years later again and it was like old times. We have all heard of people with endless amounts of energy but Michelle has that plus a positive attitude!! Michelle has a kind heart, loving personality, generous and cares for others before herself. She is seriously a really great soul! I ask that you please read her story below and if think of your Mom, Sister, Aunt, Daughter if they were going through this! She needs help now from anyone who has the extra something to give.  I know she doesn’t have much strength now but needs all the prayers and help she can get. She is strongest woman ever! She needs a village of help now!

 
Michelle has been a leader in the dental industry with over 20 years of experience as a certified EFDA, office manager and owner of an organization that aims to provide dental certifications to women who have struggled to find their career path thanks to factors like divorce or a troubled past. She has built a successful career in dentistry around not only maintaining current relationships but creating new ones, and in 2016, earned the title of one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry.  Most recently Michelle has been developing, fostering and growing over 343 relationships with Partners Nationwide.

Article Here 


In the article she states, "My journey helped me evolve into my current role through many stumbles, triumphs, choices between career and family without any hesitation or regret of my decisions. I have trusted in myself to keep going even during the toughest storms in my life.” While managing a successful career and being a single mom of 3 kids, these storms were indeed under the surface, unbeknownst to those around her in her professional day-to-day.
 
Just months after her divorce in 2014, Michelle was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), receiving a wedge resection surgery which is the removal of a wedge-shaped part of tissue from a lobe of the lung. While she was able to overcome the cancer, the past years since have been a constant rotation of routine oncology visits, 
CT scans, PET scans and series of surgeries. She was able to successfully maintain a regimen of alternative treatments as well, which is no small feat as they are not covered by insurance and therefore out of pocket expenses.
 
However in July of this year, within a week of leaving her job, Michelle started to cough up blood and feared that the cancer had resurfaced.
 
After a series of scans, a bronchostomy and biopsies, she was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer. She received surgery in multiple areas including a double radical mastectomy which includes entire removal of breast tissue and lymph nodes, and reconstructive surgery, removing muscles in her back. There are nodules on her lungs which will continue to be monitored, and more treatments such as surgery and radiation will be needed in the near future.
 
Within the same month, Michelle's lease ended leaving her and her 3 kids to find temporary housing through friends. She is currently in the process of looking for a new job and a new home, all while recovering from the extensive surgery and facing the constant oncology visits and treatments to come. 
 
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Michelle's story is a perfect example of someone who has worked so hard in life and not had to ask for help but has found herself in life's trenches through no fault of her own. It can be hard to ask for help so I am reaching out today on her behalf to help her get through this transitional period of her life and give her some peace of mind. No one should have to go through this much physically and mentally with the added stress of financial burden without the support and love of others. Please join me in contributing and being part of the sense of community we all could use in times of hardship. Michelle is already amazing, but let's get her back to a place again where she can thrive!
 
 “Our character evolves from our adversities. I believe that every time that I have fallen or have been faced with adversity, that inner fame burned brighter than any fire in my path. Be true to yourself, kind to others and never give up.”  - Michelle Gabrielson