Nine months ago, our world changed when Mike was diagnosed with oral cancer of the tongue. After undergoing surgery to remove the cancer, we held onto hope that it was behind us. Unfortunately, nine months later, it returned — this time spreading over the midline of his tongue and into two lymph nodes in his neck. Thankfully, it stopped there, because as we've learned, outcomes become far more uncertain beyond that point.

In the midst of this difficult news, a bit of fate intervened. Kalie was given a book about a famous Chicago chef who faced the same cancer. His story led him to the University of Chicago, where a team of specialists offered a grueling but potentially life-saving treatment. One of those doctors, Dr. Vokes, is now part of Mike’s care team.

Within days, we had appointments lined up with some of the top experts in the country:

Dr. Vokes (Hematologist/Oncologist)

Dr. Agrawal (ENT Surgeon)

Dr. Juloori (Radiation Oncologist)

Together, they created an aggressive treatment plan to give Mike the best possible shot. It involves three rounds of chemotherapy here in Des Moines, followed by 10 weeks of intensive treatment in Chicago starting this summer. During those 10 weeks, Mike will be hospitalized Sunday through Friday, receiving chemotherapy once a day and radiation twice a day. The treatments are so intense that he must stay in the hospital for pain management and constant monitoring.

Every weekend, we’ll make the long trip back home to Iowa to spend precious time with our kids and family, before heading back to Chicago to do it all over again after a one-week break. After those 10 weeks, we’ll have new scans to see if the cancer is gone or if further surgeries — including possible removal of parts of his tongue and lymph node dissections — will be needed.

This journey is exhausting, terrifying, and financially overwhelming. In addition to all of this, Mike was recently laid off from his job and is currently looking for a job while fighting this cancer. Between medical bills, travel costs, lodging, and managing life for our kids and family back home, the weight is immense.

We are asking for your help.

Any donation, big or small, will go directly toward:

Travel and lodging expenses for our trips to and from Chicago

Medical costs not covered by insurance

Household expenses while Mike is hospitalized

Supporting our family through the weeks of separation, stress, and recovery

Your generosity, prayers, and words of encouragement mean more than we can ever express. Mike is a fighter — and with your help, he won’t fight alone.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.