Mike's Cancer Fight Fund
Donation protected
Well, this is the last thing I wanted to do. Most people that have stayed close to me over the years know I hate nothing more than not being able to take care of myself and my family in all aspects, not just financially. This is actually a very embarrassing and humbling experience.
For those of you that don't know, here is the story that brought me here, to ask for help.
November of 2014 lead me to an emergency room visit for what the doctor and myself believed to be a kidney infection but a need to follow up with my family doctor which led to a Urologist. Insurance stepped in and I was unable to see a Urologist until Monday February 23rd 2015. Not even 30 seconds into this visit, my doctor said "S@*T, You have cancer young man" and 2 days later came my first surgery.
More blood was drawn, scans and pictures were taken and after a few more doctor visits I was informed that the worst case scenario had presented itself and the rare cancer I was diagnosed with, had spread inside and attached to my lymph nodes.
The diagnosis was and is Squamous Cell Stage 4 cancer. Odds were good and surgery was scheduled for June 12th. The doctors at The University of Wisconsin, at Madison, a world class facility, were to do the surgery and remove what was thought to be 4 infected lymph nodes in the waist. An 8 hour surgery and a 4 - 6 month recovery. I used as much spare time before the surgery to work and put as much money as possible aside. What they didn't tell me was my strength and energy level would begin to fail me, and fail me it did!
The morning of the surgery came along and myself and my wonderful family made the short journey north to Madison, hitting traffic jams along the way and of course arriving late, which was quite the joke as my surgeon was always late. Spirits were high but there was a bit of nervousness in the room as more and more doctors talked to my mother and me, the surgeon came in to re assure us that he expected everything to go well however there was always a slight chance that more tumors were inside me that the scans did not show.
120 minutes into the surgery my family received a phone call from the surgeon, and yes, the worst case scenario had arisen. The amount and size of tumors in my waist made the rest of the surgery pointless. They removed the tumors they could and stitched me up.
Now the plan has changed. I am looking at 5 months of Radiation and Chemotherapy treatment, most of which to be done in Madison, however there will be weeks where the new facility in Rockford will deliver my treatments.
The doctors feel 5 months of this treatment will shrink the tumors enough that they will then be able to remove them. 30% survival rate now as opposed to an 80% survival rate before doesn't seem as great, however I have to many loved ones around me that I am DETERMINED to be around for many, many years
The money that was put aside is gone, the disability benefits I was told that would start will now not start until the end of September. I unfortunately barely have the strength right now to get to the store by myself and now and then mow the lawn. The dollar amount I have come up with was not easy. I deleted it many times. However the math doesn't change. The price of gas, auto bills, household bills and the unexpected bills will always come. Whether it is during my treatments, or when I am fully healed. Any amount of money will help, this is what seems to be what is needed however to keep lights and gas on, gasoline in my tank to get to Madison and every day occurrence’s that I used to take for granted.
I never dreamed I would be in this fully exposed position asking for help. None of us do. Please know that any amount of help will be appreciated more than my words could express.
Humbly,
Michael Stoll
For those of you that don't know, here is the story that brought me here, to ask for help.
November of 2014 lead me to an emergency room visit for what the doctor and myself believed to be a kidney infection but a need to follow up with my family doctor which led to a Urologist. Insurance stepped in and I was unable to see a Urologist until Monday February 23rd 2015. Not even 30 seconds into this visit, my doctor said "S@*T, You have cancer young man" and 2 days later came my first surgery.
More blood was drawn, scans and pictures were taken and after a few more doctor visits I was informed that the worst case scenario had presented itself and the rare cancer I was diagnosed with, had spread inside and attached to my lymph nodes.
The diagnosis was and is Squamous Cell Stage 4 cancer. Odds were good and surgery was scheduled for June 12th. The doctors at The University of Wisconsin, at Madison, a world class facility, were to do the surgery and remove what was thought to be 4 infected lymph nodes in the waist. An 8 hour surgery and a 4 - 6 month recovery. I used as much spare time before the surgery to work and put as much money as possible aside. What they didn't tell me was my strength and energy level would begin to fail me, and fail me it did!
The morning of the surgery came along and myself and my wonderful family made the short journey north to Madison, hitting traffic jams along the way and of course arriving late, which was quite the joke as my surgeon was always late. Spirits were high but there was a bit of nervousness in the room as more and more doctors talked to my mother and me, the surgeon came in to re assure us that he expected everything to go well however there was always a slight chance that more tumors were inside me that the scans did not show.
120 minutes into the surgery my family received a phone call from the surgeon, and yes, the worst case scenario had arisen. The amount and size of tumors in my waist made the rest of the surgery pointless. They removed the tumors they could and stitched me up.
Now the plan has changed. I am looking at 5 months of Radiation and Chemotherapy treatment, most of which to be done in Madison, however there will be weeks where the new facility in Rockford will deliver my treatments.
The doctors feel 5 months of this treatment will shrink the tumors enough that they will then be able to remove them. 30% survival rate now as opposed to an 80% survival rate before doesn't seem as great, however I have to many loved ones around me that I am DETERMINED to be around for many, many years
The money that was put aside is gone, the disability benefits I was told that would start will now not start until the end of September. I unfortunately barely have the strength right now to get to the store by myself and now and then mow the lawn. The dollar amount I have come up with was not easy. I deleted it many times. However the math doesn't change. The price of gas, auto bills, household bills and the unexpected bills will always come. Whether it is during my treatments, or when I am fully healed. Any amount of money will help, this is what seems to be what is needed however to keep lights and gas on, gasoline in my tank to get to Madison and every day occurrence’s that I used to take for granted.
I never dreamed I would be in this fully exposed position asking for help. None of us do. Please know that any amount of help will be appreciated more than my words could express.
Humbly,
Michael Stoll
Organizer
Michael Stoll
Organizer
Rockford, IL