Michael's Medical

Hey there. My name is Kara and I am creating this fundraiser on behalf of my sweet friend Alicia Mullen, her husband Matt, and their precious baby boy Michael.

As many of you know, precious Michael, who is 16 months old, has Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF 1), a rare genetic condition which causes tumors and related problems all over the body. Michael was diagnosed with a type of brain tumor called an optic pathway glioma a few months ago. At a follow up appointment last week, his family found out that the tumor has grown and he now has 2 of these tumors instead of 1. Because of the rapid growth and development of these tumors, Michael will start chemotherapy treatments on Monday. In his short little life, Michael has already endured several different health concerns related to NF; now he and his parents are having to face this. His family will need as much support as possible throughout this process. Matt and Alicia will leave behind Michael's 3 older siblings (who aren't old at all) as they travel over 3 hours away to the Brain Tumor Clinic at Duke University in Durham NC to ensure Michael receives the best treatment options. Right now, Michael is scheduled to have 13 treatments but that can increase at any given time. This treatment plan is plotted out over the next year, unless an increase in treatments is needed.

Alicia stays at home to care for Michael 100% of the time and Matt will be taking time off of work to travel with her to help with Michael as well as the other children. Over the next course of the year, this sweet couple will endure the stress of chemotherapy as well as several hospital admissions, lab work, and MRI's on top of hotel stays, gas to travel back and forth between Duke and home, and food during their stays away from home.

If you feel compelled to do so and are able to, a donation of any amount is SO very much appreciated. Above all, please continue to keep Michael, his mommy and daddy, and the rest of Michael's family in your thoughts and prayers during this stage in his life.