I need to share something deeply personal—Michael doesn’t know I’m doing this, and he would never normally ask for help publicly. But our circumstances have left us with no choice. With overwhelming medical bills and no insurance coverage for this surgery, we are humbly asking for your support.

A couple months ago, while trying to fix the springs on our couch, a metal coil unexpectedly popped up and injured Michael’s eye. We rushed him to the ER, and slowly but surely his eye began to heal. However, a few weeks ago, he started experiencing increasing pain and pressure. After finally getting an appointment with a retinal specialist, the shocking news came: his retina has detached significantly, and he urgently needs emergency surgery to avoid losing his eyesight.

Today, Michael is set to undergo a Scleral Buckle procedure at St. John’s. For those unfamiliar, a Scleral Buckle is a surgical treatment that involves placing a silicone band around the eye to gently press the wall against the detached retina, helping to reattach it. While this procedure is critical for saving his sight, it also means a significant downtime. We don’t know when he’ll be able to drive or return to work.

Michael is so much more than his current struggle. He’s a talented musician, inspiring drum teacher here in Tulsa and at OSU, as well as a real estate professional. All his classes and work will put on hold as he will have to recover. This situation is especially hard for him, as he prides himself on being healthy and active and keeps his struggles to himself. Plus, he has no family here- they are all in Aruba and Colombia.

The costs for his treatment have already exceeded $16,000, and with insurance refusing to cover these expenses, he is overwhelmed with what to do about it and I am humbled yet called to ask for help. I have never done anything like this and have no expectations but I also know we have such a compassionate and generous community here in Tulsa!

So here it goes, we are asking for you help.

Every donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward Michael’s surgery and recovery. We are eternally grateful for your support and kindness during this challenging time.

In deep gratitude,

Ana