Hi, my name is Bill and I am creating this fundraiser on behalf of my brother Mike Baskins, who has humbly agreed for me to tell his story. Mike is 53 and a single Father of two beautiful daughters, Serenity (19) and Faith (17) who reside in the area and are enrolled in local high school and college. Mike has been struggling quietly with Cancer for 18 months.

Since Mike was diagnosed with this rare form of Spindle Cell Sarcoma 18 months ago, Mike has been 80% to 90% bedridden and can only walk at a 90-degree angle. He struggles to stand straight for standing and walking. He struggles with all daily activities. Although Mike is in constant pain, even morphine can not numb it enough, he manages to go to all of his Doctor appointments with the assistance of family and friends. His love for his daughters motivates him to keep going although it is a constant daily struggle to do even the simplest things.

Mike’s cancer is a rare type of Spindle Cell Sarcoma only 2-5% of all Cancers. He has multiple tumors in his pelvis that have wrapped themselves around his abdominal and pelvic muscles and organs. They have intertwined themselves around the muscles, tendons and ligaments to the point that he can not put his leg on the floor to walk or even too straighten out his leg. His cancer has spread to his lungs and although some surgery has helped to remove it from there, the tumors continue to grow in his abdomen and pelvic region.

Throughout the year 2022, Mike has had over 60 hours of Chemotherapy in hopes to shrink the tumors small enough to be surgically removed. He has maxed out of chemotherapy and his team of Doctors says radiation is too harmful to the organs the tumors surround. Cancer did spread to his lungs and those tumors shrunk enough to be surgically removed, however; the tumors in the abdomen and pelvis have not shrunk enough for the doctors to be removed. More shrinkage needs to happen for the doctors to surgically remove them so that he can begin the healing and the rehabilitation process.

To help the process of shrinking the tumors in his abdominal and pelvic regions. Mike is now in need of a special type of Radiation Therapy called Proton Therapy which directly targets the areas of the tumors in hopes to shrink them enough to surgically remove them. Targeted Proton Therapy is needed so that the surrounding organs like; Kidney and Colon will not be affected or injured. The Proton Therapy office is located in Warrenville Illinois, next to the Northwestern Medical Cancer Center. He will undergo daily (Monday through Friday) Proton Radiation Therapy treatments for 5 to 6 consecutive weeks in Warrenville, and these treatments will begin in 2 weeks.

Mike is a local born and raised in Sycamore, Illinois and has remained. He has been unemployed since 2020, he spent his life working in the construction / Masonry field as a Brick Layer and owned his own business called Baskins Masonry at one time. Everyone would always praise his brickwork and he enjoyed helping and making others happy with his precise work. Mike has 2 Brothers, Bill and Brian and a Sister, Diana who all grew up together in Sycamore. Mike's father William Sr, is alive and living in Rochelle. Our mother, Linda passed away years ago after struggling with ailments of her own.

Although he has the emotional support of his family and friends, together, sadly, we can not offer the financial assistance that is needed. His daily commute is 40 miles one way and no way able to get FMLA to help him every day; medicine, food, commuting and living expenses are taking a toll and are only more worries for him. We are praying for a miracle and the grace of God to help him. Healing prayers and prayer chains are always welcome. If you can find it within you to help with Mike’s medical costs in his time of need, any monetary amount of help you can give is truly appreciated.

Prayers, Peace, Serenity, Faith and Love to all of you, thank you for keeping him in your thoughts and prayers.