Michael Fuller

We have discovered that putting off a colonoscopy for 7 years is not a wise thing to do, especially if you have a medical diagnosis that indicates getting one sooner rather than later. Michael had no symptoms other than becoming anemic. He ended up having 1/3 of his colon removed in 2013 and was on chemo for 9 months. We got a second opinion at the Mayo Clinic and found a new oncologist who agreed that further chemo at the time was unnecessary, especially since he was not tolerating the side effects well as time went on. After 4 1/2 years of regular CT scans to watch the slow growing tumors and a successful biopsy in late 2017 to confirm that the tumors were related to the colon cancer, we decided to restart chemo hoping that it wouldn’t be longer than it was previously. Unfortunately, Michael’s current oncologist thinks that the tumors might grow much faster if he goes off chemo at this point. We have asked that the chemo dosage be increased due to Michael’s tolerance for the dosage he was on and the new liver issue showing up on the past 2 CT scans. We went from company sponsored pre-tax health insurance in 2013 to COBRA insurance after my untimely lay-off during chemo and a basement renovation in 2014 to Medical Assistance to having to pay an unaffordable (for us) amount of individual health insurance with a high deductible. Michael will be eligible for Medicare in 15 months, but we are already carrying a high credit card debt from CT scans and chemo for 2018-2019. We have an out-of-pocket maximum of almost $7,000 this year and again for early next year until Medicare kicks in. We appreciate your prayers as much as any donations you contribute! Thank you!