Support for Mize family in their darkest times

My cousin Julie and her husband Mike are some of the most loving, hard working, compassionate and down-to-earth people you could ever meet. They have always handled every hurdle thrown their way with grace until life decided to “go for broke” with both of them becoming critically ill while raising their three wonderful children under 18. They have been to multiple different medical facilities across the country and they all conclude he doesn’t have much time left. With Mike’s prognosis turning for the worst these past couple weeks, an impossible decision was made - on Father’s Day of all days - to place Mike on hospice. Julie is now having to face the reality of losing the love of her life and father of her children while also having to deal with medical and impending funeral expenses along with managing to provide for her three children who are losing their dad and idol. I implore you to at least read and share their story and if you are able to donate - any bit will be helpful to this family whose whole world is shattering around them.

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The Mize family, a wonderful family of 5, have been dealing with devastating health issues. While raising their 3 children, the mother Julie was diagnosed with PHD (pulmonary hypertension disease) shortly after her third child was born. After a few years of treatment, her health became so fragile that her only hope of survival was to undergo a double lung transplant. She was hospitalized for several months, in & out of induced comas, until she was stable enough to come home to her family. Even then, it was still a very long road to recovery. Life expectancy for a double lung transplant can be as little as 5 years.

Shortly after Julie’s transplant surgery, her husband Mike was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. Mike immediately started immunotherapy treatment, which proved to shrink his existing tumors. The immunotherapy treatments also raised Mike's instance of losing his sight which became evident before his first complete year of treatment. Treatment had to be paused for a while, which gave his tumors the ability to start growing again. When treatment was able to be started again, there were additional complications which required surgery to remove a large tumor. DNA testing was done with a biopsy of the tumor, indicating that immunotherapy treatment may no longer be the best method of treatment. Oral chemo was started with the Cancer cells not responding to this treatment as well. The current test results are indicating there is no treatment that is working against the growing tumors. Mike will be going into hospice this week. The family’s oldest daughter just graduated from Goodrich High with plans to attend Oakland University so she can be close to home for her parents & siblings. The second oldest child is homeschooling due to anxiety issues over both her parent’s health. The youngest is only 8 years old. This family has no life insurance & will be struggling financially to even make proper funeral arrangements. Mike had been working up until a couple weeks ago, going in every day & working long days. He is currently out on FMLA. Julie, the wife & mother has not been able to work since her lung transplant. Please donate anything you can to help this warm & loving family deal with funeral expenses & getting back on their feet.