Support for Mike Tigges & Family

The words you never want to hear about someone you know: "It's cancer." 2020 can just stop! Mike was diagnosed on October 7th with T-CELL Prolymphocytic Leukemia, which is a very rare, fast moving, and aggressive cancer. It was initially found on a basic blood test at his Dr. office. He underwent a bone marrow biopsy and samples were sent to Mayo Clinic for diagnosis. If you choose to Google this, just know that you will read that the prognosis is “dismal”, etc. This is NOT Mike! This cancer is so rare there just aren't a lot of studies published on it yet. Not to mention the average person who has PTLL is 67-70 years old. Mike is 42 years old and in otherwise good health!! He was admitted to MercyOne Oncology on Friday, October 9th to begin treatment. The treatment is every bit as rare as the disease and is only available at the direct request of his Oncologist, along with pharmacy, and Mayo Clinic directly to the pharmaceutical company and then sent out to the hospital. He will be in the hospital for the next week, then will receive treatments Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next 12 weeks. Following treatment, and once he's in remission, he will be looking at a stem cell transplant to give the best chance of a longer term remission. If you know Mike, you know he's pretty awesome. He's a dad, a husband, son, brother, uncle, nephew, friend, community member, high school classmate. I know that I'm damn blessed to know him! I'm setting up this page to reach out for support for the family...for whatever they need it for during this new Chapter to 2020. Caring Bridge link: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/miketigges