Michael's Cancer Treatment Fund

Friends and Family,

I've set up this GoFundMe by request--many friends said they didn't want to have to set up a PayPal account (which was one of the original ways we were trying to raise funds), and felt like GoFundMe offered an easier, faster way for them to send money for my dad's cancer treatment!  Thank you so much for your support!  We are all tremendously grateful.   Here is my dad's story:

My daddy, 52-year-old Michael Tinning, has stage 3 colorectal cancer. It all started with a routine colonoscopy on November 15th. He was shocked to know the results revealed a large tumor in his colon. His doctor was so concerned about the size that she ordered a CT scan for that same afternoon. The CT scan and the subsequent MRI showed the cancer has progressed all the way to stage 3, and managed to make its way to his lymph nodes.

His medical team at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital wanted to start treatment immediately. On December 8th, my dad Michael had surgery to implant a port in his upper chest so he could start chemotherapy. On December 13th, my dad began the chemo medicine, and started radiation treatments five days a week. The chemo is administered by a pump that he wears over his shoulder in a large side pack 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every five minutes, the pump gives him a small dose of the chemo medicine.

It’s the doctors’ hope that the combination of chemo and radiation will shrink the tumor enough so they can safely surgically remove it. My dad’s prognosis is good, but the doctors anticipate a year of treatment, if not more. In the meantime, he is too weak to work his job as a business owner and general contractor. His health insurance is only covering part of his medical care.

My dad is wonderful friend, father, grandfather, and husband. He and my mother, Sasha, are fairly well-known in the community and have lived in Scappoose since 1998. My mother works full-time as the Marketing Director at Rose Valley Assisted Living and has worked there since I was in high school. My dad is the father of five children; David (29, journeyman electrician and soon-to-be father), myself (27, CPST at Randall Children’s Hospital, pre-nursing student, and mom of three), Michael James (deceased in 1993), Christopher (22, stationed at the Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina and was just awarded “Airman of the Year”), and Sara (20, Junior nursing student at University of Portland).

My dad is truly a model citizen, too—a “pay it forward” kind of guy—who volunteers his time every year fundraising for the Windermere Foundation. He is honest, hard-working, caring, considerate, loving, and has always been deeply committed in his role as a parent and grandparent. He is the husband and father I hope to raise my sons to be.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much. We’re extremely grateful for your help and will make sure he knows about everyone who has helped him through this! We love you all! If you’d like, please feel free to share with anyone who might know our dad! Wishing you all a Happy New Year from all of the Tinnings.