Help Michael Through Heart Surgery and Stem Cell Transplant

Hello Everyone,

In May, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma-stage 2.

What this means is: My body is creating more protein & plasma cells that my system can deal with... to the point of it suffocating the red & white blood cells. Since I was diagnosed, I have been on chemo treatments that are trying to reduce the plasma/protein numbers.

This is to prepare my system for a 2-month-long Bone Marrow Transplant, set for September and October at Fred Hutch/UW.

Many of you know that in 2015, I had a Heart Valve replacement to repair a birth defect... Well, after 10 years, the doctors have agreed that the current valve will need to be replaced before I begin the Bone Marrow Transplant procedure.

So, on August 26th I am scheduled to have heart surgery. The good news is, the procedure won't be open-heart... it can be done via catheters in my legs. (TAVR - Transcatheter aortic valve replacement) I will only be in the hospital for 2 days.

I won't have much time to recover from the heart surgery, because about a week later, I will begin the extensive procedure of a Bone Marrow Transplant. This process will keep me in the hospital for many weeks.

With all of the inpatient and outpatient hospital time I'll need, I will be required to stay off-Island for the duration. And when I'm outpatient, I'll need to stay nearby the medical facility. (Between late August to late October.)

We don't yet know how much insurance will be covering the gambit of hospital stays and medications.

But what we DO know: Staying off-Island for the duration will be expensive. This GoFundMe account will make it possible for us to stay off-Island, help pay for pet care, housing, food, medication and other costs due to loss of income.

Elizabeth and I appreciate your love and support. Thank you,

-Michael