It's Been a Long Road...

Mike last enjoying an Oakland Raiders game.
This was after winning his second fight with cancer.

Mike's health struggles began 10 years ago when he was diagnosed with a very rare form of testicular cancer. At this time, the aggressive cancer spread to his lymph nodes and kidneys. While he was only in his early twenties, Mike was fighting for his life while many of his friends were enjoying a carefree life at college.

After major surgeries on his abdomen, neck, and kidneys as well as chemotherapy, Mike won his first fight with cancer. Mike lived cancer free for about five years. During this time he graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, got married to Meghann Schaney and had their miracle baby, Cayla. She's the miracle baby because Mike was told his chances of having children were less than 5%. Mike also enjoyed helping others through his job as a nuclear technician at the hospital. A few years later, the family welcomed their second baby, Dylan.

Always the devoted father, here's Mike with Cayla and Dylan.

In 2010, the family got the discouraging news that Mike's cancer had come back. This time it was located in the bones of his lower spine and pelvis. When many others would have accepted defeat, Mike continued to fight for his family. Being faced with a type of cancer that had only been treated a handful of times before, Mike traveled to John Hopkins Medical Center to have major spinal and back surgery to remove the cancer from his bones.

The surgery was successful in that it removed the cancer, but not without taking its toll on Mike's body. After the surgery Mike was left permanently disabled and unable to work. After months of physical therapy, Mike has been able to progress to walking with a cane.

On July 30, 2012, Mike returned to John Hopkins for more back surgery. Since he had to have radiation to kill any remaining cancer from his surgery in 2010, Mike's bones never regenerated to grow around the rods and pins that were put in to stabilize his back and protect his spine. As a result, Mike was left with severe pain on a daily basis. This surgery this summer was done in hopes of improving his quality of life.  Mike's surgery went well and he amazed us all with his will to get back home to his family.

Unfortunately, he could not seem to catch a break and was faced with serious, life threatening complications that sent him fighting for his life once again.  Mike was once admitted to the hospital once again due to chest pains and difficulty breathing. After hours of tests and anxious waiting, it was determined that Mike had a life threatening blood clot in his right lung as well as pneumonia. Mike spent another week in the hospital and then returned home once again. Mike continues to struggle with the blood clots in his lungs, even a year later.



The family together just after Dylan was born.

The cruel reality of life is that every time Mike needs additional care for all his complications, his medical bills add up. The family has been extremely thankful to all the support they have recieved from their family and friends. However, the battle is not over and the bills continue to come in.

. Please take a moment to do what you can to help bring him some relief. It is a huge blessing to have any support that can help relieve the financial stress of the his heartbreaking situation. The family has been working to fund raise for Mike, Meg, and the kids.

Mike and Meghann enjoying some time at IUP with close friends.

Once again, THANK YOU to all who have done what they can to support the family! The love, support, thoughts, and prayers have been an amazing help with Mike's recovery.

Please Help the Chapman Family!

Mike is stronger than any of us can imagine and has accomplished a lot so far in his short life. Mike has endured 10 years of battling with serious health complications. He has already beat cancer twice and gone through 5 different major surgeries on his kidneys, lymph nodes, and spine; all before his 34th birthday.

Mike recently had major reconstruction surgery on his spine last summer at John Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. After a long road of recovering, Mike is still fighting the after effects of his surgery (lingering blot clots, constant pain, and permanent weakness in his leg that leaves him disabled).

Through all his trials and struggles, the main drain on Mike and his family has been the financial burden of his medical bills and his ongoing treatments. Mike has stoically accepted all his treatments, therapies, and tribulations all in the name of surviving and doing what he could to be there for his family. Since 2010, Mike has been disabled and unable to work.

Please take a moment to think of not just Mike, but his wife, Meghann, and their two children, Cayla (6 years old) and Dylan (4 years old) and give what you can to help them during this extremely difficult time of need.

Here are some ways you can help the family:
1. Contributions can be made online through the secure PayPal system at:

2. We will be fundraising the FUN way! On Sunday, August, 2013 Janine will be hosting a fundraising party at her home in Pottstown, PA. At the party will be several friends who own their own home businesses. So far we will have sales women from Silpada (silver jewelry), Arbonne (health and beauty products), 31 (personalized bags and other items), Party Girl (adult entertainment products), and Tastefully Simple (kitchen and cooking items). All the vendors have agreed to donate their profits to the family. When the party date gets closer, you can either have a great time and attend the party, or order online to show your support. I will post any links at a later date (and closer to the party time) for people to buy online.

3. You can also mail any cards, well wishes, or donations to the family at:
Mike and Meghann Chapman
31 N. State Street
Warren, PA 19365

4. As always, all prayers and positive thoughts for the family will help!

Somethings Are Worth Fighting For...

Through all his battles and surgeries, Mike never stops thinking of his family. The thought of having to stay away from them for weeks at a time gives him the motivation he needs to keep pushing to get better and go home.


 

The family on their recent trip to Niagra Falls, Canada. This was the last family trip before Mike went to John Hopkins Medical Center for his reconstructive back surgery in July, 2012.



Mike and his wife, Meghann
(2010 before Mike's second battle with cancer)





  

Mike's daughter, Cayla, now 6 years old.  Even when Mike had pneumonia, pluerisy, and blood clots in his lungs, Mike made it out to the bus stop to see his baby girl off for her first day of kindergarten. 

 

Mike's son, Dylan, now 3 years old.