Help Mike Prove the Doctors Wrong - Urgent

Mike’s fight to beat life‑threatening complications, funding treatments, travel, and care

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Help Mike Prove the Doctors Wrong - Urgent

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Help Mike Prove the Doctors Wrong - Urgent

I wanted to share with y’all shocking news about my health and this urgent new fundraiser.

Ventilators, Feeding Tubes and a Blood Transfusion

Several weeks ago, I was intubated on a ventilator with feeding tubes. My lungs were pumping at 0%, which means they weren't working at all. All the while getting a blood transfusion. It was a miracle I survived. This happens all too often. Over and over again for years. It’s why the Mayo Clinic said there was “nothing that can be done“. Well, I wanna prove them wrong. I’m not gonna slowly die away!! I am going to survive. {cue in the theme music to Rocky 1 and 3}

Why We Need Your Help

I lost my Obamacare insurance (which was $300/month). So now, I have to pay $1700 a month to keep my plan with BCBS of Texas. It is an amazing plan that has kept me alive. But I have to come up with the money ASAP. The goal of my GoFundMe is to raise enough funds to cover my premiums for a few months and for expenses related to surviving and recovering from this latest maelstrom. My goal is $6000, but y’all have been so generous before. I will take any help I can get.

Who is Mike?

Mike is a crusading investigative reporter who has worked on dozens of documentaries & books. He worked directly with Dan Rather on CBS 60 Minutes after cutting his teeth with legendary columnist Molly Ivins and being mentored by journalist Bill Minutaglio. His story was portrayed by Topher Grace in the 2015 film "Truth" starring Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett.

What Happened?

In 2016, Mike suffered two devastating brain hemorrhages that left him with:
• Brown-Séquard syndrome: His entire left side is paralyzed. So, he requires 32 neuromuscular injections every 3 months to get some functionality.
• Compromised immune system from dozens of hospital-acquired "superbugs" that have made him resistant to most antibiotics.
• Severe hearing and speech impairment requiring specialized equipment and treatment from the top audiologist in Texas.


Special thanks to family and friends who have helped so much over the years. Especially Jason Bratcher, my best friend for 40 years who has given his love and support to me every damn step of the way. And David Smith, who has single-handedly kept me alive for a long time. And thank you to everybody who has given support and donations. a I’ve not been able to thank everybody, but I promise I will. {cue Eye of the Tiger}

#Inspiration #AVM #Survivor #AVMSurvivor #AVMStrong #AVMStories #aneurysm #nevergiveup #neverquit #TAAF #AVMWarrior #TheBeastSpeaks #hospitalacquiredinfection #MayoClinic #arteriovenousmalformation #MollyIvins #DanRather #LBJHigh #CBSNews #PBSFrontline #Minutaglio

Organizer

Michael Smith
Organizer
Temple, TX

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