On the morning of Thursday, November 21st, Michael was taken to the ER again, but by ambulance this time. His oxygen levels decreased and blood pressure dropped along with other concerns. It was determined in the ER that Michael had a large amount of fluid surrounding his heart. The ER stated they needed to act quickly. The procedure drained 1.5+ liters from around his heart. Michael is currently in the ICU and will remain there until it is determined he is safe to go home.

Dear Friends, Family, and Caring Strangers:

We are reaching out to you today with a heavy heart, but also with hope and determination. Two years ago, my brother, Michael (Mike), was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-smoker lung cancer.

For the last two years, Michael has courageously battled through treatment after treatment.

In the late hours on Friday, November 8th, Michael was taken to the ER and admitted into Cedar Sinai in Beverly Hills per the request of his oncologist.

Our parents and I made an emergency trip on Saturday, November 9th. Over the course of the weekend, it was determined that he is septic, has pneumonia, now has 8 tumors in his brain, and tumors in his liver. These tumors were not there at his previous scans 6-8 weeks ago. The brain tumors were also causing severe electrolyte imbalance.

During the weekend, our parents and I met with his oncologist. He has a solid plan in place which will involve restarting a prior cancer medication, radiation, and possibly chemo. Due to the aggressive nature of the treatments, they will be slightly spaced out. Radiation will be starting Monday, November 18th, and will be daily for two weeks. In addition, once home, Michael will be on home care which will involve skilled nursing care 1-2 times per day, but will heavily involve a lot of help from family and friends.

As of Thursday, November 14th, Michael was released from the hospital to home care.

The road ahead is frightening and uncertain. Due to the sudden decline in his health and being admitted into the hospital, medical expenses, preparing his home for care, and travel expenses between California and Utah, the expenses are adding up quickly and will continue to build.

We want to help cover medical bills, treatment costs, home care, emergency funds due to unexpected costs, living expenses, and lost wages.

Every dollar raised will go directly towards ensuring Michael receives the best care possible and can focus on healing without the constant worry of financial stress.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Donate: Any amount, big or small, makes a difference. Your generosity will provide Michael with the treatment and support he needs during this difficult time. We have two options for donations. GoFundMe and Venmo. The Venmo account is run by our parents, Mike Sr. and Beth Russell.

2. Share: Please share this campaign with your network. The more people who know, the faster we can reach our goal.

3. Send Love and positive vibes: Even if you can’t contribute financially, your prayers, words of encouragement, love, and support mean the world to Michael and our family.

We believe in the power of community. Together, we can help Michael fight this battle and show him he is not alone.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and support.

With love,

Family and friends of Michael Russell Jr.