Mike Derrick's Journey
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Caroline Lewis-Jones, Mikes sister-in-Law and sissy to Joanna. I'm writing today to bring unfortunate news that Mike's cancer is back. We are so blessed and grateful to all of you for loving them so much. My sister expressed her thoughts on FB and thought I would share them with you. Please keep praying, sharing the prayer, and keeping them in your daily thoughts. We have no idea of the future, but know that it's today....so we live for this day. many thanks. Caroline
This isn't a post I ever thought I'd write, especially for a third time, but here goes:
Mike has cancer again.
This time it is in his pancreas and the doctors are unsure if it is metastasis or a new primary cancer. Mike and I will know for sure by the end of the week hopefully.
Mike had a stent placed in his bile duct yesterday to drain the bilirubin that has been collecting in his body and his symptoms are improving quickly!
Either way, surgery is most likely the modality of treatment and would happen in the next couple of weeks. Things are a little more complicated with his anatomy since he had the esophagectomy last year in august, so the doctors will need a little extra time to sort things out.
Here's what you can do if you want to help:
Pray for Mike's healing- completely and along the way.
Pray for me- that I will have the endurance and stamina to do what needs to be done as his caregiver and to ask for help when I need it.
Pray for our children and family- that they can rest peacefully at night knowing that Mike is under the care of the ultimate healer and spiritual physician and the best earthly doctors he and I can find.
Praise God for all of the provisions, mercy, grace and wisdom we've ALREADY received.
If we are building or remodeling something for you, please remain calm. We've done this before and we will do it again. We have people in place that will help us and you, if/as we need it.
If you like to cook...we love food and would gratefully accept meals.
Wine...wine can be helpful sometimes. (Laugh!!! It's ok to still laugh ❤️)
That's it for now. I love you all in some way, shape or form and am grateful for your friendship and support. Thank you to the people who have already helped us through.
This is ultimate truth. This is everlasting truth. This is the truth that I put every single last tiny bit of hope in.
JESUS CHRIST
Hi all :-) in an effort to be completely transparent in regards to the go fund me link that has started circulating again, I decided to drop a line (or 50) to you:
at this point in time, we are financially stable. (Mike's first diagnosis taught us a very valuable lesson about the need to save in case of an emergency.) Mike also has bomb ass insurance this time that does not have a $10,000 deductible and so far has been paying 100% of all of his medical bills.
In spite of all of that I just mentioned, I know that things can change very quickly.
I am also far too wise and street smart to try and interfere with something as generous as people giving their money in an effort to support us- let this read as: I ain't messing with what God is working on, on our behalf.
So, what I have decided to do is this: I am going to use the money that has already started to collect in the go fund me account to pay for Colton's childcare. Up until last week we've been paying for his childcare with money made from our business, MonkeyDog Metal.
We are currently sitting MonkeyDog aside so that we can focus on Mike's care and even more so because Mike truly is the heart and hands of that business and without him it does not exist.
In the case that all of this shakes out and there is money left over, be certain that it will be donated to something or someone who is brought to my attention by the Great Attention Getter, Jesus Christ ❤️
Yep- I'm going to mention Him every.damn.time. And yes- He forgives me for my pre-disposition to cuss
This isn't a post I ever thought I'd write, especially for a third time, but here goes:
Mike has cancer again.
This time it is in his pancreas and the doctors are unsure if it is metastasis or a new primary cancer. Mike and I will know for sure by the end of the week hopefully.
Mike had a stent placed in his bile duct yesterday to drain the bilirubin that has been collecting in his body and his symptoms are improving quickly!
Either way, surgery is most likely the modality of treatment and would happen in the next couple of weeks. Things are a little more complicated with his anatomy since he had the esophagectomy last year in august, so the doctors will need a little extra time to sort things out.
Here's what you can do if you want to help:
Pray for Mike's healing- completely and along the way.
Pray for me- that I will have the endurance and stamina to do what needs to be done as his caregiver and to ask for help when I need it.
Pray for our children and family- that they can rest peacefully at night knowing that Mike is under the care of the ultimate healer and spiritual physician and the best earthly doctors he and I can find.
Praise God for all of the provisions, mercy, grace and wisdom we've ALREADY received.
If we are building or remodeling something for you, please remain calm. We've done this before and we will do it again. We have people in place that will help us and you, if/as we need it.
If you like to cook...we love food and would gratefully accept meals.
Wine...wine can be helpful sometimes. (Laugh!!! It's ok to still laugh ❤️)
That's it for now. I love you all in some way, shape or form and am grateful for your friendship and support. Thank you to the people who have already helped us through.
This is ultimate truth. This is everlasting truth. This is the truth that I put every single last tiny bit of hope in.
JESUS CHRIST
Hi all :-) in an effort to be completely transparent in regards to the go fund me link that has started circulating again, I decided to drop a line (or 50) to you:
at this point in time, we are financially stable. (Mike's first diagnosis taught us a very valuable lesson about the need to save in case of an emergency.) Mike also has bomb ass insurance this time that does not have a $10,000 deductible and so far has been paying 100% of all of his medical bills.
In spite of all of that I just mentioned, I know that things can change very quickly.
I am also far too wise and street smart to try and interfere with something as generous as people giving their money in an effort to support us- let this read as: I ain't messing with what God is working on, on our behalf.
So, what I have decided to do is this: I am going to use the money that has already started to collect in the go fund me account to pay for Colton's childcare. Up until last week we've been paying for his childcare with money made from our business, MonkeyDog Metal.
We are currently sitting MonkeyDog aside so that we can focus on Mike's care and even more so because Mike truly is the heart and hands of that business and without him it does not exist.
In the case that all of this shakes out and there is money left over, be certain that it will be donated to something or someone who is brought to my attention by the Great Attention Getter, Jesus Christ ❤️
Yep- I'm going to mention Him every.damn.time. And yes- He forgives me for my pre-disposition to cuss
Organizer and beneficiary
Joanna Lewis Derrick
Organizer
Columbia, SC
Joanna Derrick
Beneficiary
