Help Michelle Fight Cancer

On June 12th, 2019, my wife Michelle Kennedy (Colicchie) left her job at the Carnegie Science Center with chest pain and fatigue. Thinking she simply had a cold or sinus infection; she went to an Urgent Care to get checked out. I soon received a call from Michelle that they were sending her to the ER for a chest x-ray. I left work to meet her there. After the x-ray the Dr. told us they found a “spot” – as he called it at the time. You could see the concern in the Dr. and Nurses’ faces.

Michelle promptly had a biopsy and PET scan and it was confirmed; she had inoperable Stage 3a Lung Cancer. We were in total shock. We had just been at Kennywood a few weeks prior. Michelle was 39. How could this be happening? We later learned less that 2% of Lung Cancer diagnosis were people under the age of 40.

We moved into treatment mode. The first line treatment would consist of Chemo and Radiation. Michelle was a trooper, keeping a positive attitude and even demanding to dress her best to every treatment. Due to a very understanding employer, I was able to attend every treatment with her.

Michelle had a PET and Brain MRI after the first line treatment and we were in high spirits. That was until we received a call from her Oncologist only a couple hours after the scans, we knew this couldn’t be good. He asked if we were driving, we were, he asked us to pull over. While the tests did show a reduction in the lung mass the cancer had spread to her brain and bone. Her Oncologist said she was now Stage IV with a 6-12 months prognosis. We were told to get her affairs in order.

As life changing a call as that was, we were ready to keep fighting. We moved onto a new Oncologist who was highly involved with the clinical trails at Hillman. Along with prescribing a second line treatment of Immunotherapy and Chemo, the new Oncologist was prequalifying her for clinical trials so we would be ready to move fast into one if needed. Michelle was also going to receive Gamma Knife Radiation treatment to the brain.

While the first line treatment was certainly no playground, the second line treatment brought with it some serious side effects. Michelle was hospitalized for Pneumonitis, a collapsed lung, a serious blood clot and multiple emergency blood transfusions.

After the second line treatment we had finally received the news we had been fighting for the last year: A CLEAN PET SCAN! Zero detectable cancer! I think even her Oncologist was a bit surprised at the amazing success. On top of that, the Brain MRI was so positive that her Neurologist was not recommending another Gamma Knife treatment, only monitoring.

Since then, Michelle is still dealing with ongoing treatment symptoms and Pulmonary Rehab as she deals with COPD. And the undeniable reality that you live scan to scan, as any cancer patient can attest to. She is currently engaged in an inspiring effort to get back to work and has secured an amazing new job where she is making a difference in the lives of underprivileged kids.

Unfortunately, we are also in dire straits financially. The FMLA, Cobra, out of pocket medical expenses, copayments, treatments and equipment not covered by insurance, etc have added up.

We liquated our investment and retirement accounts, drained our savings, took out personal loans and ran up our credit card debt to keep up. I can remember speaking to other patients and caregivers at Hillman, how many of them recommended a GoFundMe. At the time, we thought we were prepared financially. We were naïve and likely a little too proud at the same time.

At Michelle’s request, we are asking for donations to help pay down the medical bills and other debt incurred since the diagnosis. We understand this is a crazy time in the world and many are struggling. We are very grateful for anything people may be able to spare. As hard as it is to post this, our options are very limited right now.

Thank you for your time,

Michelle and Zack Kennedy