One in a Million Mike

When my friend, Kim from The KO Story told me the story of a boyfriend of a friend of hers from her childhood and how she wanted to share it in the blog world, I knew I had to help her out.

I hope you'll keep reading and share this story. I've seen bloggers do great things before and I know we can help out this man that has served our country and given up some very precious time in his life due to illness.

Today is the day to share a story. This is heartbreaking, eye opening, and inspirational. It is the true story of a man who deserves the absolute best. It's my hope that his story moves you like it moved me.

I was on facebook a couple weeks ago and came across an old friend from elementary school, Malary. She had shared a few different things about her boyfriend Mike, and in true internet fashion, I started reading. One page led to another, which finally ended here. I knew I wanted to do something to help out, but without having a lot of money, my options were limited. Then I remember the power of the internet, so I'm sharing the story here on this little blog in hopes that it will reach other people. After all, big things are always accomplished by a lot of small people. I'll stop jabbering and just let you read the story:

"Mike was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He served two tours in Iraq as part of the United States Army. While in Iraq, Mike was exposed to radiation. The doctors we have spoken to have said that this absolutely played a role in his diagnosis, but are quick to say that they cannot prove it. 

Aside from his role in the army, Mike has worked at an orphanage in Cambodia and taught english to children in Thailand. He currently works for Alaska Child and Family where he does activity therapy treatment for foster children. Mike is genuine, caring, and intelligent. He makes everyone he meets feel important. He is an asset to humanity. 

At 29, the odds of being diagnosed with myelofibrosis are 1 in a million, sparking the nickname One in a Million Mike. This disease, which has a median age of diagnosis of 65, makes normal stem cells in the bone marrow turn to scar tissue. Day by day, Mike's bones become harder. The only treatment is a stem cell (aka bone marrow) transplant. The progression of the disease will lead to leukemia and organ failure. 

After a trip to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Mike was put on a list and the search for an unrelated donor has begun. There are 100 potential donors at this stage. Further testing must be done on these donors to find a perfect match. This could happen tomorrow or in a few months. Once a donor is found, Mike will undergo a week of chemotherapy and radiation to prepare him for the transplant. For the transplant to be successful, Mike will have his entire immune system wiped out, so extensive in fact that a year or two after the transplant he will need all of his immunizations all over again. The preparation will be followed by the transplant and 4 months in Seattle undergoing constant treatment and observation. Listed in the top 3 most expensive medical procedures, the stem cell transplant comes in at about $800,000. 

We have started gathering bills and have racked up $20,000 for diagnosis alone. The financial strain on top of the medical stress is overwhelming to say the least. People have been incredibly gracious and helpful."

I can't imagine the stress and pain he and his family and friends must all be going through, but I do know one thing: he's strong, and he's a fighter. He's surrounded by people who love him and would do anything to help him. He is truly an inspiration.

There are several ways for you to help out. First, you can help me share his story. I want his story to go viral. Bloggers are some of the best at utilizing social media, so I want to see those skills at work! Twitter, pinterest, instagram, facebook...share it everywhere. Secondly, you can share this on your own blog. If you want to share the story on your blog, hit me up at thekojewelry@gmail.com, and I'll get you in touch with Malary. 

You can also donate. Even a few dollars can go a long way. They have a goal of $150,000 to reach on their donation page, and currently have raised over $20,000. If you want to help out financially as well, I've included the widget:

Medical Fundraising Made Simple

Thanks for reading!

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