This call for help is for Lucas. On behalf of him and Michelle, we, his family, are asking for your generosity in supporting their long healing process. If you know Luke, you know he has a force of will stronger than forged steel, a sense of loyalty that has no exceptions, and a heart that loves with truth, gratitude, and acceptance. He is also the guy you want with you in a dark alley, especially if he has his danes with him. He is a protector, a friend, an uncle, a husband, a brother, and a son. He’s Lucas. If you know, you know. Here is his story. We hope you can help in even a small way. Their need is great, but we can all ease their burden, by just giving what we can.

The Tumor:

As many of you know in early September he was diagnosed with a rare and extremely aggressive cancer called mucosal melanoma. What he thought was an abscess in his sinus, turned out to be a malignant, fast-growing tumor. A week into September, it was removed, and by the end of the month it was growing back, faster than before. On November 9, two months after the initial removal and three weeks after round one of immunotherapy, it had taken over the left side of his face. His U of M team moved immediately to remove it to offer him the best chance at survival.

The Surgery:

The surgery was a maxillectomy with removal of front part of the roof of mouth which included four front teeth and left canine, lower nasal bones, all margins around the tumor. This type of surgery requires the eventual use of a prosthetic mouth piece before reconstruction. The reconstruction will be handled by yet another team of docs. The maxillofacial surgeon and her team plan three phases for the obturator, the prosthetic part they will build to allow Lucas to speak and swallow. It will seal and fill the void where his teeth, gum, soft, and hard pallets have been removed. This will be in place until there is a reconstructive surgery in the future that can use grafted bone and tissue to rebuild the pallets leaving only a need for a partial denture and also assuring a complete seal between his mouth and sinuses helping with speech, eating, and drinking. This will also provide structural support to his face to return some of his original features. The timing of all of this is in the works. And this is just the initial surgery and fix.

The Current Situation:

He is on a feeding tube stitched into his nose until he has the prosthetic that will enable eating. His facial features are being held up by the post surgical packing which will be removed soon. Once that is removed, he will lose the ability to speak and swallow until the prosthetic is in place. His facial features will partially collapse. He currently has 9 follow up appointments scheduled before Thanksgiving. The reconstruction will start after any radiation is done, if that is necessary.

But this probably isn’t over even after the reconstruction. Mucosal melanoma has an extreme rate of recurrence and metastasis meaning this is just the beginning; he will be dealing with years of medical treatments and possible additional surgery. He is doing remarkably well given the gravity of this situation and is committed to beating this disease and regaining his life.

The Need:

As you might guess, the financial need increases daily. Yes, he has insurance. No, insurance cannot cover all of the expenses. While he has not lost wages yet, Michelle has. Lucas will soon lose some earning potential as he will not be able to accumulate the hours he typically does in the upcoming months. With co-pays and deductibles, they face $50,000 in medical expenses for the months of September through January. This will only rise as therapy continues and reconstruction awaits him on the horizon. In addition, home medical supplies have already cost about $2000. Living expenses for Michelle to stay in Ann Arbor, near the hospital and for the trips for early appointments and therapies, has added about $2000 to date. As a self-employed person, Michelle is losing wages with each day she is caring for Lucas, approximately $250 per day. Additionally, this reconstruction surgery on the horizon is an unknown (if a portion of it is classified as dental, the costs will soar), more hospital stays, and more travel to Ann Arbor await. His plan is to start a medical savings account where your generous gifts will rest until he needs to use it. Of course, the immediate need is already high. As you can see, it is daunting and will be crippling financially if they do not receive our help.

We know Lucas has an incredibly supportive network that reaches far. Please help him in anyway that you see fit. Our gratitude is already extended to you, as is his.

—Lucas’s family