One of the first things Michelle Novak said when doctors told her she wouldn’t be walking for a while because of fractures in her hip was: “How am I going to mow the lawn?” That reaction probably won’t surprise anyone who knows her. Michelle has always been fiercely independent and takes pride in caring for her home, her family, and the people around her. For the past 11 years, Michelle has worked at the Florida Institute of Technology as a Campus Dining Manager, where she helped create a welcoming environment for students and staff. She managed teams of employees, mentored many student workers, and helped build themed dining events that became favorites across campus. Some of those events even earned national awards from NACUFS, including Bronze, Silver, and Gold recognition. Outside of work Michelle poured her creativity into her home. For more than 15 years she has been designing and expanding a backyard garden filled with ponds, patios, cactus plants, statues from around the world, and dozens of desert roses she has grown herself. She also loves decorating for the holidays, especially Christmas, when the house lights up with nearly 20 Christmas trees, thousands of lights, and countless decorations.


In October, Michelle participated in a 2K walk during Florida Tech’s Homecoming, finishing first in her age group. At the time she believed she was dealing with a minor injury and some back pain. But on New Year’s Day, after the pain worsened, imaging revealed the real cause. Michelle was diagnosed with Stage IV bladder cancer that had already spread to her bones, causing fractures in her spine and pelvis. The diagnosis came as a complete shock. She had kept up with regular medical care and there had been no warning signs until the imaging was done. Her response when she heard the news was simple: “I’m going to beat this.” Since then Michelle has endured long hospital stays, surgery, spinal procedures, and intensive radiation treatments as doctors worked to stabilize the damage caused by the cancer. The cancer has left Michelle unable to walk safely and in need of help with many everyday activities. Because she must continue chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and ongoing treatment, transferring to a rehabilitation facility is not an option. Those programs require patients to pause cancer treatment, which her doctors have advised against. This means everything must happen at home.


Michelle now requires in-home assistance, physical therapy, and significant modifications to the house to make it safe during treatment. While insurance covers some care, much of the support she needs is not covered. Her husband continues to work full time while helping care for her at home. Her family has stepped in wherever possible. Her son helps coordinate medical logistics and home modifications whenever he is home from work travel, his fiancée Alex has been an incredible help with transportation and meals, and Michelle’s daughter travels in from California whenever she can to assist with paperwork and care. One of Michelle’s biggest motivations right now is her son’s upcoming wedding this September, a day she would not miss for the world.


This fundraiser is intended to help offset the extraordinary expenses that come with this situation, including home accessibility modifications, in-home assistance and physical therapy, medical expenses related to treatment, and transportation for appointments and care. Michelle has spent her life supporting others including her family, her coworkers, and countless students at Florida Tech. Now we have the opportunity to support her. Any donation, share, or message of encouragement means the world to Michelle and our family. Thank you for helping her continue this fight. The Novak Family