Michael's Fight Against GBM Tumor

My husband Michael went to the ER on October 20, 2017 after having severe headaches for one week and some facial drooping on his left side. They did a CT at Conroe Regional Medical Center and found a mass and then explained they wanted to send him to Memorial Herman in Houston. They got him into an MRI at 4 am and then put us in a room around 6 am. At about 7 am, the Dr. came in and gave us the horrendous news that my husband had what they believed was a GBM and it was close to the brain stem and in a place that would make it difficult to remove.

On Monday October 23, 2017 they did a biopsy and placed a shunt from his head to his abdomen to drain the excess fluid to relieve pressure. He began chemo on November 11th, 2017. The tumor is inoperable.

Our daughter moved up her wedding date to November 19th once we found out this news about my husband so he could walk her down the aisle.

Unfortunately he began to deteriorate quickly within a few days and was not able to walk her down the aisle. We called 911 that afternoon (the day of our daughter’s wedding) and he was rushed to the hospital. Come to find out his blood sugar was 516 (normal is about 100ish). He was then placed into ICU for 3 days and discharged from the hospital the day before Thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving morning we received a call from the hospital stating that one of the blood cultures he had showed an infection and he must return to the hospital for IV antibiotics. He has now been in the hospital this time for last 5 days (as of November 28, 2017)

He now has been off his chemo since November 19th, 2017. He was taken off of it after only 8 days of treatment due to him being hospitalized again.

The prognosis is not good... maybe 6 months if we don't get treatment, up to 2 years if we restart chemo and get him radiation. I can apply for insurance through healthcare.gov and he can have coverage beginning January 1st... But by then it may be too late to do anything...

WE HAVE NO INSURANCE!!!! He hasn't worked since May and our insurance was through his company.

Radiation alone is over $76,000 just for the treatment and not including the doctors’ bills, on top of the medical bills we have already been acquiring.

He does not qualify for SSI or Medicaid, and Social Security Disability has been applied for and we are still waiting on approval (over a month later!)

I am scared! He is the love of my life... I don't know what to do... I have loved him for almost my entire life.

We were high school sweethearts and after 17 1/2 years apart he found me again in 2009. We just celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary September 16, 2017.

Michael is a terrific husband, a loving son, a caring and devoted step-father as well as a wonderful "Pop Pop" to our grandson Ronnie who was born in June this year.
Please help our family in this dire need of assistance.

#Glioblastoma (GBM) is a type of tumor that grows and spreads rapidly, often creating pressure. Symptoms include headache, nausea, drowsiness, blurred vision, personality changes, and seizures.
Treatments include radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery.

#CancerSucks #BrainTumorsSuck #BrainTumors #GBM #GoFundMe #ShareOurStory