For His Birthday Present - Please Donate to His GoFundMe

Hi everyone. We wanted to give you an update on Mike's current situation. He has been hospitalized for pneumonia, MRSA, possibly sepsis and has lost use of both arms probably due to inflammation. It is a dangerous time. Please send Mike your prayers and healing thoughts.

We had originally planned to post the fundraiser drive for his birthday but since it's been difficult to communicate with Mike, we are going for a belated birthday fundraiser.

The Crisis

Investigative journalist Mike Smith faces a life-threatening emergency. His immune system is crashing and his health insurance premiums have quadrupled overnight. He needs immediate help or he will lose access to vital medical care at the worst time. He has to raise $3500 in the next two weeks in order to maintain access to his insurance benefits. In the near future, we would like to raise more so that Mike won’t have to worry about his health premiums for a few months.

Who is Mike?

Mike is a crusading investigative reporter who has worked on dozens of books. He worked directly with Dan Rather on CBS 60 Minutes after cutting his teeth with legendary columnist Molly Ivins and being mentored by journalist Bill Minutaglio. His story was portrayed by Topher Grace in the 2015 film "Truth" starring Robert Redford and Cate Blanchett.

What We Need: $3500 NOW.

Our Long-Term Goal for GoFundMe:

5 months of health insurance premiums

Essential living expenses

Consultant support for Disability and Mayo clinic help.

What Happened?

In 2016, Mike suffered two devastating brain hemorrhages that left him with:

• Brown-Séquard syndrome requiring 32 neuromuscular injections every 3 months to prevent his entire left side from becoming paralyzed

• Severe hearing and speech impairment requiring specialized equipment and treatment from the only qualified doctor in Texas

• Compromised immune system from dozens of hospital-acquired "superbugs" that have made him resistant to most antibiotics

The Immediate Danger

Without insurance, Mike will lose:

• Critical injections that prevent total left-side paralysis

• Specialized hearing/speech & other medical treatments

• Physical therapy & occupational therapy sessions

• Protection against deadly infections

• Any chance of getting into Mayo Clinic for advanced care

Current Progress

Mike is making remarkable recovery progress at Wellington Rehabilitation Center in Temple, TX. His right leg function and memory are improving for the first time in years! Long term he needs to transition to safer in-home care in Austin near his support network.

Why This Matters

Mike is documenting his healthcare journey to help others facing similar battles. Your support doesn't just save his life—it helps him turn this fight into hope and knowledge for countless others.