Support the Olson Family in Memory of Mike

Sarah Sweeney is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Michelle Olson.

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Dear Family and Friends,

With very heavy hearts, we said our last goodbyes to Mike this week. With his family by his side, Mike spent the last several weeks of his life at the UW Hospital ICU battling complicating factors of his auto-immune disease. Mike fought so hard to live, but after weeks of highs and lows, the disease sadly took his life. In his last days, Mike shared that he was less afraid of dying and more afraid of leaving behind his wife, Michelle, and their three children, Greta (13), Will (12), and Lydia (12).

Mike was an incredible man. He was a loving husband and father who always put his family first. Whether it was volunteering to coach the kids’ sports teams, or endlessly putting worms on the kids’ fishing hooks at the lake, Mike was known for being selfless and prioritizing his family.

Mike silently battled an auto-immune disease for most of his adult life. The disease first attacked his kidneys, which resulted in the need for two kidney transplants. Michelle donated a kidney on his behalf in December, and at the time he became ill this summer, Mike was patiently awaiting his third transplant. Mike, Michelle, and the kids all planned on having many more years together as a family, but despite the best efforts of UW Hospital’s top specialists, their time was cut tragically short.

One of Mike’s bigger frustrations was that due to his pre-existing auto-immune condition, he never qualified for life insurance outside of what his employer provided. Because of this, we are reaching out to all of you to ask for support. Please consider donating to help Michelle and the kids with ongoing expenses, including establishing college funds for the kids. Every dollar raised will go directly to the family.

If you are not in a position to contribute financially, please consider becoming an organ or blood donor. It was through the gift of donation that Mike was able to graduate college, marry the love of his life, and bring three beautiful children into the world.

Thank you.

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