Mike’s Story

In late 2024, while Bethany was eight months pregnant, Mike began experiencing severe pain throughout his body. Over several months, he was repeatedly misdiagnosed— doctors said arthritis, cysts, physical therapy, nasal polyps—while his cancer continued to spread.

By February 2025, scans revealed devastating news: widespread metastatic melanoma throughout his body, including his bones, liver, lungs, brain, and leptomeningeal lining. We were told his prognosis was terminal.

But we refused to stop searching.

We pursued opinions across the country, researched relentlessly, and uncovered treatment options that were never initially presented to us. From targeted therapy at Mayo Clinic to later traveling to Germany for T-cell therapy, Mike’s journey became a fight fueled by persistence, innovation, faith, and access to the right information.

Against overwhelming odds, his tumors began shrinking.

This experience changed our lives—and revealed how difficult it can be for patients and families to navigate cancer, uncover options, and advocate for themselves during the most overwhelming moments of their lives.

That’s why we created the Smilo Foundation:
to help patients and caregivers access trusted guidance, innovative thinking, and resources that might otherwise be missed.

Because sometimes the difference isn’t luck.
It’s access to the right information.