Help Michael recover from a shoulder replacement

Hi! My name is Rachel Nichols - I am asking for your support to help my partner, Michael Holcomb, recover with more ease after his third shoulder replacement with extra-muscular reconstruction as we enter the new year.

 

7 years ago, Michael was diagnosed with Giant Cell Tumor of the bone in his left humerus. Giant Cell Tumor (GCT) normally does not spread, and typically isn't cancerous; for Michael, however, this was not the case. The cancer quickly spread to his lungs, and in 2015 Michael was in need of a shoulder replacement, a lung biopsy, and a tumor removal. This left him with a replacement cadaver bone held in place by screws where his shoulder socket had once been, limiting his range of motion to the point where he was unable to lift his arm past a 90-degree angle.

 

In the wake of all of this, Michael set out on his own and launched a local HVAC company, Complete Climate Services, with the goal of providing relief to the community he had come to love so much. Though Michael is in constant pain, he has set out each morning for the past four years to try making the lives of his neighbors a little easier each day. GCT has taken time and energy away from Michael which he cannot get back, yet he has never stopped giving.

 

If you've met Michael, you know his real passion is with the healing power of plants and mushrooms. In 2020, he started two new enterprises - Fells Point Cultivated Creations and Baltispore - to continue spreading his love for nature, using his experience and perspective to change the lives of everyone he has encountered. In short, Michael has become a true community staple, inspiring myself and all those around him to work hard, pursue our passions, and care for others.

 

In 2021 Michael was rear-ended in a car accident, dislocating the screws in his shoulder that held the cadaver bone in place. This caused a snowball effect; doctors could not assist Michael in putting his shoulder back into place as the tumor destroyed and ate away the entire area. For the last year, Michael has been living with the pain and discomfort of a dislocated shoulder while working to build 3 businesses.

 

Now in 2022, Michael is undergoing a reverse shoulder replacement with extra reconstruction and a full prosthetic, in hopes to finally alleviate his pain and tension. This surgery will be critical to Michael gaining back shoulder mobility, and will hopefully allow him to be more able-bodied in his endeavors. The recovery process for the surgery alone will be three months, with a second surgery mid-year to move muscles from his chest and back around the new implant, and an expected full 12 months of physical therapy needed.

 

All this to say - Michael is an incredible human being who has been dealt a difficult hand. I've never met someone so passionate about giving back to his community, and I hope we can work together to give something back to him.

 

With your support, these funds will help Michael in many ways; they will help pay for hospital bills and physical therapy appointments, keep his home clean to limit the risk of infections, and help cover everyday expenses like groceries, gas, and medicine while he recovers.