Michael Colautti's Cancer Battle

My name is Carleigh Montello. This GoFundMe has been initiated to raise funds for my uncle Michael, father to two school-age daughters, my cousins Brynn and Keira. In 2022, Michael was diagnosed with stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

My uncle has been a science teacher at Orangeville District Secondary School (ODSS) for 33 years, teaching not only science but math, english, geography, and even shop. His quirky teaching methods and personality created life-long memories for many of his students.

Throughout the lockdown, he felt progressively less energetic and developed a persistent cough. During my visit at Christmas 2021, I witnessed coughing fits that would lead to lightheadedness and fainting/collapsing spells, and became very concerned for his well being. Finally, unable to breathe, my uncle went to ER where in February 2022, he was diagnosed with a collapsed left lung filled with fluid. Testing revealed stage IV lung cancer. Palliative care was offered. He had to leave teaching as a result.

My uncle’s condition deteriorated and he required repeated drainage, Additionally, the strain on his heart was enough that he is now in heart failure, and his previously well-controlled diabetes has worsened.

Further testing revealed that the cancer was a ROS1-EZR gene fusion. This form of lung cancer has a targeted therapy available called entrectinib. Within a few months, the symptoms eased and he was able to resume life, even hiking, with a little supplemental oxygen.

In February 2023, the cancer returned one year after treatment started. He had returned to teaching in November 2022 in order to pay for the cancer therapy, but was now forced to leave again.

Currently, he has deteriorated to a worse state than ever. He is now oxygen-dependent, and the right lung is involved as well.

He was devastated having to share this news with his (then) 13- and 16-year-old daughters, Brynn and Keira. The fact is, Michael is "super-dad”, and the news was soul shattering to these girls. Brynn and Keira have been blessed with an involved and loving father who maximizes his time with them, taking them to dance, gymnastics, music lessons, and is present and involved in their interests, even when these sometimes involved braiding and bedazzling his beard or building a playhouse or sandbox. I have never seen a dad love his daughters as fiercely and gently as he does.

Because of his age (59), he cannot draw long term disability, and his benefits will terminate later this year if he does not resume work. Because of his lung cancer, he cannot qualify for any post-retirement benefits. The drug entrectinib costs $9000 for a month of therapy and is not covered by OHIP. In addition, other medication has cost $5000 last year. My uncle’s medication is always changing, as will these estimates. While there may be other programs he might qualify for, applying for them takes time, and time is what he doesn’t have.

This initiative has been started to allow him to focus on the last precious memories he will make with his daughters instead of drowning in debt using his life savings (generated for the benefit of his daughters) simply to buy another day with them.

These girls will lose their father to this illness, and they should not have to lose him prematurely due to the loss of coverage for his medications, nor should they have to pay for each day with him at the expense of sacrificing their post-secondary educational opportunities once he is no longer around to provide for them.

This is an upstanding man whom (after a lifelong career in service to the community’s youth) I believe should be acknowledged by ensuring that his daughters have every day possible with him, so that their focus be on their remaining time together, rather than on his financial demise or loss of employment and dignity as a result of his physical inability to continue.

I am imploring you now for your help with raising $40,000.00 to help my uncle Michael and his daughters.

Thank you to anyone who shares this, and to everyone who donates.