Mike Worthen's Stage 3 Cancer Support
Donation protected
In early June 2020, our dear friend (father & grampy) Mike Worthen had started a treatment for his second round of cancer treatments, this time a different flavor, and unlike his last, (unfortunate discovery of a Oligodendroglioma brain tumor, still there), this time he had been hit with a diagnosis of stage-3 Basal Cell Carcinoma, which is an aggressive skin cancer, assumed to have derived from prior focused radiation treatments + Chemotherapy.
It’s been a long, exhausting road for Mike over the last 10-years, where he can’t seem to catch a break from the “C” word, and unfortunately, he has lost a lot of drive and hope towards a full recovery… It’s quite heartbreaking to see my dad so vulnerable for a cure & support on this courageous journey of his. “Mad-Mike” Worthen deserves your support more than ever right now...
As his youngest son of three (Sean, Johnny, Parker(me)), I personally couldn’t handle the neglect of his condition and how far it had gone untreated and unacknowledged. His face physically appeared to resemble the effects of a wicked motorcycle wreck of an open-faced helmet. IT WAS GNARLY, and quite disturbing to many, including himself...
Mike would get questioned about his facial condition everywhere he went, and got to a point where he felt like he had been put in the spotlight like he was some kind of circus act - everyone staring and whispering, all the time, everywhere, they just didn’t understand...
I trust you can all see how society’s view of my dad’s face had impacted his mental wellbeing and personal confidence in himself, even just to go outside in public was a challenge. It was, once again, quite upsetting for me to witness these events first hand, but I got pretty dang good at pushing away these curious, pesky-peepers when we went out. Silly, silly stuff.
Anyhow, Mike’s physical and mental state eventually got to a point where I had no choice but to hand him over a swift (metaphorical) kick-in-the-ass (or confidence boost, in my opinion), and some tough love to get Dad’s ass “shifted” into gear. I knew it deep down that he deserved it far too much to finally understand his condition, what he can do to face the reality about his face, what experts he can see that are available (and in network), and how he can get the ball rolling to accomplish his (ideal) goals, which are:
1. Obtain a professional assessment + diagnosis of his current condition.
2. Gain a clear path towards a proper, focused treatment with a trusted facility & staff.
3. Start a treatment towards a full recovery.
4. Finish the damn treatment’s and finally kick this cancer’s ass to the curb.
5. Be physically able to slap on a helmet and ride a motorcycle once again (very important to him).
6. Live a happy, healthy, and cancer-free life.
Together, we’ve been able to accomplish goals 1, 2, & 3, (Exciting!) but we know that’s just the beginning of this great journey on the road to recovery. Mike is more determined than ever to heal quickly and come back stronger than ever to a stable life, family, grandkids and motor hobbies he loves way too much, LOL. However, we know the fight is far from over, but we are off to a much better start thanks to you all, and your committed support.
So far we know this:
1. Mike is unemployed and unable to work, as he is physically unable to.
2. His medical and personal bills (food, mortgage, auto loans) are stacking up and getting way out of control (he coined the term “COVID-Broke”).
3. Our family can only do so much to support him and his expenses to keep him a float, especially during these unfortunate times.
4. His particular BCC case is very advanced, and quite rare - the experts have not seen anything like it in the last 10 years - it’s super severe.
5. Medical treatment side is complicated and may be a process to get this under control. He’s currently been treated for 5 months - looking like to be 4 - 5 months more + a likely eye surgery, but he’s healing up real nice!!! (but still more work)
6. Mike still manages to get in the garage and work on his 70’s dirt bikes now and then in between treatments.
Like previously stated, “Mad-Mike” Worthen deserves your support more than ever, and this cancer crap isn’t cheap! Medical bills, cancer treatments and prescriptions add up to a lot of stress and frustration, and that's the last thing Mike deserves during an epic decade long battle with the big "C" word. As you may know he's quite the character and a real tough guy like Clint Eastwood, but deep down he's a freakin' sweetheart and real softy (hard to believe ammiright?). I also trust he’s going to blow a gasket once he finds out I wrote all this gooey stuff about him, but it’s worth it, because HE’S WORTH IT.
I don't want to sound like a cheap infomercial, but In order to get him through challenging times ahead, I challenge us all to take a look at what we can do to assist my badass dad with medical and living expenses so stress levels and state of mind can focus on HEALING. Literally, for less than a $1 a day we can get this guy back on the road. So let's do it, and toss some good in back into the universe/world, whatever you wanna call it, let's practice some outward focus. Please, please, please, this is so important for us all.
If you're open to it, please continue to spread the word and do what you can to round up the troop, share the link, anything to assist to get this guy back to health and on a bike! Also, please take care of yourselves and check-in on your loved ones. I’ll be sending out good vibes to you all, thanks again for all the support, i’ll be sure to keep you all updated on his progress @ Miracle for Mike website.
Much love & respect,
Parker W.
It’s been a long, exhausting road for Mike over the last 10-years, where he can’t seem to catch a break from the “C” word, and unfortunately, he has lost a lot of drive and hope towards a full recovery… It’s quite heartbreaking to see my dad so vulnerable for a cure & support on this courageous journey of his. “Mad-Mike” Worthen deserves your support more than ever right now...
As his youngest son of three (Sean, Johnny, Parker(me)), I personally couldn’t handle the neglect of his condition and how far it had gone untreated and unacknowledged. His face physically appeared to resemble the effects of a wicked motorcycle wreck of an open-faced helmet. IT WAS GNARLY, and quite disturbing to many, including himself...
Mike would get questioned about his facial condition everywhere he went, and got to a point where he felt like he had been put in the spotlight like he was some kind of circus act - everyone staring and whispering, all the time, everywhere, they just didn’t understand...
I trust you can all see how society’s view of my dad’s face had impacted his mental wellbeing and personal confidence in himself, even just to go outside in public was a challenge. It was, once again, quite upsetting for me to witness these events first hand, but I got pretty dang good at pushing away these curious, pesky-peepers when we went out. Silly, silly stuff.
Anyhow, Mike’s physical and mental state eventually got to a point where I had no choice but to hand him over a swift (metaphorical) kick-in-the-ass (or confidence boost, in my opinion), and some tough love to get Dad’s ass “shifted” into gear. I knew it deep down that he deserved it far too much to finally understand his condition, what he can do to face the reality about his face, what experts he can see that are available (and in network), and how he can get the ball rolling to accomplish his (ideal) goals, which are:
1. Obtain a professional assessment + diagnosis of his current condition.
2. Gain a clear path towards a proper, focused treatment with a trusted facility & staff.
3. Start a treatment towards a full recovery.
4. Finish the damn treatment’s and finally kick this cancer’s ass to the curb.
5. Be physically able to slap on a helmet and ride a motorcycle once again (very important to him).
6. Live a happy, healthy, and cancer-free life.
Together, we’ve been able to accomplish goals 1, 2, & 3, (Exciting!) but we know that’s just the beginning of this great journey on the road to recovery. Mike is more determined than ever to heal quickly and come back stronger than ever to a stable life, family, grandkids and motor hobbies he loves way too much, LOL. However, we know the fight is far from over, but we are off to a much better start thanks to you all, and your committed support.
So far we know this:
1. Mike is unemployed and unable to work, as he is physically unable to.
2. His medical and personal bills (food, mortgage, auto loans) are stacking up and getting way out of control (he coined the term “COVID-Broke”).
3. Our family can only do so much to support him and his expenses to keep him a float, especially during these unfortunate times.
4. His particular BCC case is very advanced, and quite rare - the experts have not seen anything like it in the last 10 years - it’s super severe.
5. Medical treatment side is complicated and may be a process to get this under control. He’s currently been treated for 5 months - looking like to be 4 - 5 months more + a likely eye surgery, but he’s healing up real nice!!! (but still more work)
6. Mike still manages to get in the garage and work on his 70’s dirt bikes now and then in between treatments.
Like previously stated, “Mad-Mike” Worthen deserves your support more than ever, and this cancer crap isn’t cheap! Medical bills, cancer treatments and prescriptions add up to a lot of stress and frustration, and that's the last thing Mike deserves during an epic decade long battle with the big "C" word. As you may know he's quite the character and a real tough guy like Clint Eastwood, but deep down he's a freakin' sweetheart and real softy (hard to believe ammiright?). I also trust he’s going to blow a gasket once he finds out I wrote all this gooey stuff about him, but it’s worth it, because HE’S WORTH IT.
I don't want to sound like a cheap infomercial, but In order to get him through challenging times ahead, I challenge us all to take a look at what we can do to assist my badass dad with medical and living expenses so stress levels and state of mind can focus on HEALING. Literally, for less than a $1 a day we can get this guy back on the road. So let's do it, and toss some good in back into the universe/world, whatever you wanna call it, let's practice some outward focus. Please, please, please, this is so important for us all.
If you're open to it, please continue to spread the word and do what you can to round up the troop, share the link, anything to assist to get this guy back to health and on a bike! Also, please take care of yourselves and check-in on your loved ones. I’ll be sending out good vibes to you all, thanks again for all the support, i’ll be sure to keep you all updated on his progress @ Miracle for Mike website.
Much love & respect,
Parker W.
Organizer and beneficiary
Parker Worthen
Organizer
Salt Lake City, UT
Mikel Worthen
Beneficiary