During what should be a purely joyful time, awaiting his first baby in May, Mike is faced with a difficult diagnosis of stage four melanoma. Maddie and Mike are doing their best to remain optimistic, and are so thankful to everyone who has reached out and has been thinking of them since his diagnosis.

This cancer diagnosis came as a shock as Mike was seeking medical attention for knee pain and some chest pain back in March. Initial tests found a mass in Mike's lungs and further tests found additional masses throughout Mike's body and biopsy results came back as melanoma. It is still unclear where the melanoma originated, and Mike's doctors are currently more concerned with shrinking the tumors and stopping the spread.

On April 10 Mike was admitted into the hospital for additional testing that found masses in his brain and around his spine. He remained in the hospital and underwent surgery to remove the two largest tumors from his brain on April 16. Mike recovered well from surgery and was able to go home on April 18.

Maddie and Mike are doing their best to balance this new reality with the excitement of their baby coming soon. Mike was able to attend their baby shower along with Maddie on April 25, but he is also taking the time to rest as his body continues to heal from the major surgery.

Mike and Maddie met with his oncology team and it has been decided that he will begin treatment on May 4, which will be a combination of radiation and immunotherapy. The doctors are hoping to target a few, more concerning tumors with the radiation, while relying on the immunotherapy to treat his melanoma as a whole.

Between a new baby in May and Mike's upcoming treatment, they are going to need our support. Mike and Maddie are endlessly grateful to those of you who have offered help with tasks around the house and/or caring for their beloved pets. However, financial support will also be critical during this time so they can focus on what is most important and be fully present with each other. Funds will go towards medical bills, food delivery, hospital parking fees, and costs that are sure to come up with so many unknowns up ahead.

Thank you for being the community that Mike and Maddie can lean on. While they have a difficult road ahead, it will be made that much brighter knowing that they are not walking it alone.