Hello,

Thank you for visiting this page get to know (more) about our brother/comrade/homie, to learn about the tender and tenacious journey he is facing, and to consider a care contribution.

WHO IS MIKE

Mike Rubio is a father who loves his kids relentlessly, with realness, with tenderness, with humility, with humor.

He is a son who makes sure his mom feels seen, loved, cherished.

He is our rideor die homie, who will also clown the shit out of us all day.

He is a cat from East Oakland doing the difficult, beautiful work of healing himself in the here and now, for generations before and after.

He is a movement warrior who inspired the lives of so many young people.

He is a risk taker who changed careers to keep gentrification at bay so peeps are not pushed out of the Bay ( Check out Own In the Bay ).

He is an avid learner. Like he ALWAYS got facts to drop.

He is a burgeoning wine snob.

He is funny AF and entirely loveable, even when he’s not.

He is our brother by bond who we love and care for deeply. And who is facing an immense and intense journey and reckoning with 2 rare and severe cancers.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MIKE

In November 2021 Mike went to see the doctor for what was thought to be pneumonia. That visit resulted in a 3 and half week hospital stay in which he endured open heart surgery, numerous blood transfusions, invasive tests, and an abrupt shift to life as he was living it.

During his hospitalization, Mike was diagnosed with Erdheim Chester Disease , a rare blood cancer. After going through open heart surgery to remove a tumor, it was revealed to be malignant. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with Intimal Sarcoma,

The last few months have felt like running in slow motion. The ebbs and flows of shock, fear, anger, anxiety ensue, as do the jokes and roasting - coping in all the ways. We honor them all, including going into planning mode with lists, calendars, spreadsheets, and of course, COVID safety.

Last week, Mike began chemotherapy to target the intimal sarcoma. It was in this time, the enormity and possibility of what is ahead for Mike and his family hit. That the necessity of community and resource became palpable, undeniable. That it is time to share, reach out, and ask for support. We are grateful Mike gave us permission to do so.

WHERE YOU COME IN

Mike has shared with us that what will help him access the hope and fortitude he has, wants, and needs to face a challenging prognosis and intense treatment is connection.

There is no immunity like community, and no medicine like relation. So we ask that you connect with Mike to:

Our aim is to provide as much ease as we can so Mike can focus on his health and his family. Living with cancers is expensive AF. So we are also asking that you consider a donation in any amount that you are able.

We are grateful to be Mike’s care crew and for his trust in us. We are grateful to have such broad and beloved communities to share, invite, and ask for connection and contribution.

If you have have other ways to connect or contribute, feel free to reach out to Mike directly or send Kanwarpal a message on this page.

With love, tenderness, and jokes,

Alex, Kanwarpal, Kirk, Raul, and Rene