Monthly Archives: June 2012

Dear Friends,

Please see the below email from the Malone family:

The Malone family – including Michael – decided to come home today. His chest tube was removed yesterday, and he tolerated the procedure well enough to be given the OK to leave the hospital. His catheter was also removed, so Michael is going home with oxygen and his port accessed so that hospice can administer IV medication.

He still has fluid in his left lung, but given the circumstances, inserting a new tube has its own set of risks and would have only lengthened his stay, without any definitive promise of improvement. The remainder of his care will now be through hospice.

Michael did have one uplifting moment today. To better understand the moment, here is an excerpt from a speech that Mike Malone gave to their church and to the Baylor School of Nursing:

One of Michael’s favorite things is the reality TV show The Biggest Loser. At first, we thought it was about the teams and the competition. The teams are designated by colors, which Michael loves, and they have intense competitions and challenges, which he enjoys immensely. And the trainers are his heroes. But over time, we have come to believe it is because Michael feels like he and the contestants are kindred spirits. The contestants on the show are morbidly overweight when they arrive. They are in fact sick. Yet by agreeing to be on the show, they have decided they want to get better. They take charge of their own destinies. They rely on each other. They form communities. The contestants are on a journey to get better. I think, as a cancer patient, Michael understands their pain and their suffering. Like him, they are grinding it out. He doesn’t want them to relapse. He wants their weight, like his cancer, to melt away.

And from Alison…
So Michael’s initial Make A Wish was to fly to The Biggest Loser Ranch and work out with the trainers and the contestants, and especially to meet his personal favorite, Bob Harper. Make A Wish worked very hard to try to make this happen for Michael, but there simply wasn’t time. So today, Bob Harper surprised Michael with a phone call right before he left the hospital. For those of us that were there, I can tell you that it was absolutely magical. And as his mother, after several nights in a row sleeping next to my son and watching him in excruciating pain and discomfort, it was uplifting to see his face when he heard Bob’s voice. Michael has very few giggles left, and I haven’t seen him smile since Wednesday. So if you’re reading this, thank you, Bob. You made Michael very happy today. We join Michael in his admiration for you – a trainer, a motivator, a fighter, a healer. Keep fighting the good fight, and if your contestants ever get weary and want to give up, tell them about Michael.

Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers and support. There are no words to describe our gratitude.

We will continue to update you and to post updates on Michael’s website.

God bless you all,

Alison, Mike, Michael and Emory

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Blessings,

Evelyn Costolo
214.683.8511

Dear Friends,

UPDATE: Michael was admitted to ICU at Cook’s Children’s on Thursday because he was having difficulty breathing and had a mass on his left shoulder. He had just returned from a two day trip to the University of California San Francisco Medical Center, where he was being evaluated for potential MIBG treatment. Unfortunately, a CT scan and chest x-ray on Friday revealed that Michael had fluid in his chest cavity and numerous new tumors covering his body that had invaded his kidney and liver. A chest tube was installed to relieve the pressure on his heart and lungs. His doctors believe that he has a very limited amount of time, possibly less than a week, before his organs begin to fail. His family hopes to move him home by Monday to spend the remainder of his time surrounded by family and friends in the comfort of his home.

Michael has fought a brave fight over the past two and a half years. He has shown great courage and has been an inspiration to all who have had the blessing of knowing him. Find hope in his strength, peace in his perseverance, and encouragement in the fact that he has never been far from God.

As information becomes available, I will send out new updates. Please pray for Alison, Mike and Emory during this very difficult time. Please pray for comfort and pain management for Michael. Also, pray for strength and peace for the entire family.

Blessings,

Evelyn Costolo
214.683.8511