Donations (Updated June 9, 2005)

Although the severe financial burden has been lifted with the awarding of insurance coverage by Blue Cross Blue Shield for Michael's transplant, we are still accepting donations to help with medical expenses not covered by insurance. These expenses include transportation, housing in New York, post transplant medications, home nursing care and occupational and physical therapy.

In addition, donations will help with the loss of income due to a sabbatical leave (at half pay) allowing Michael's dad the ability to stay home and care for Michael after the transplant during the upcoming 2005 – 2006 academic year.

It is hard to know what the future holds. We can only hope that it will bring good news for Michael.

Our warmest regards,
The Interdonato Family

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Updated: May 25, 2005

     It's late, but I need to let you all know that a miracle (one of many we are going to need) happened this afternoon. We got the word, that even with the announced intention of Blue Cross Blue Shield to deny a second request for insurance just last Friday under Dr. Garvin's metabolic protocol, that the external reviewer would overturn that decision with very strong support for Michael's transplant.  We got the word by phone from the Empire BC/BS case manager late this afternoon, that the decision was made to grant insurance coverage for Michael's transplant and that we would be receiving a confirmation in the mail in the very near future.

We can hardly believe it ... hopefully we won't wake up in the morning and find it was just a dream.

Michael has just passed the first of many hurdles. He will continue to need your support and prayers. I can't begin to tell you how relieved we are, yet how sobering it is to know that Michael is only just beginning his journey on the medical front. We can only hope that he will continue to have success as we move forward.

I will tell you that Michael cried when he heard the news. Thank you all so much. You are all very special people!

The Interdonato Famiy

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May 2005

Michael has regrettably lost his battle with the Blue Cross/Blue Shield FEP insurance company to cover the costs of his cord blood stem cell transplant (BMT). In spite of this fact, and with the knowledge that bone marrow transplants can be very expensive costing in the vicinity of 350,000 to 400,000 dollars (and potentially a lot more with severe complications), we are determined to raise the money needed to give Michael an opportunity to beat this disease. Nothing is guaranteed, even with a successful transplant, but doing nothing is not something we who know and love Michael can even begin to consider.

One would be hard pressed to begin to dream of a disease as malicious as MNGIE. Living with this disease as it continues to attack someone you love is very difficult to do. It is extremely hard to watch as Michael's nervous system slowly deteriorates to the point were, eating, walking, feeling a keyboard, or touching someone you love with your fingers is slowly being taken away. Time is critical to Michael's survival and hoped for recovery. Even under the best of circumstances, Michael has a long road ahead, to first stop and then hopefully recover from the ravages this disease has already inflicted upon his body.

We are asking visitors to this site, to consider helping with a donation to Michael's Hospital Transplant Fund. Every little bit helps. 40,000 visitors donating 10 dollars each would cover the escrow necessary to schedule an admission to the Children's Hospital of New York Presbyterian. (We are still in the process of negotiating the exact amount.) Assuredly, the larger the donation one might be so inclined to give, the fewer people who will be needed to reach our goal of 400,000 dollars.

Currently the links for donations will take you to the Paypal web site. Please, even if you "do not" have a paypal account, the option for making a donation with a credit card at the paypal location is available. Electronic donations are securely handled at the Paypal site with the latest encryption available. Please follow the Paypal instructions to make your donation. Simply sending a check or cash in the mail is also a possibility.

I can't begin to tell you how Michael needs "A Second Chance" at life. His family, as do many of his doctors, know he has a real opportunity to beat this disease, God willing, but, it's going to depend on those of you around the world who don't know him personally to give Michael the opportunity to emerge from the shadows of this disease and see and experience all the wonderful things this world has to offer.

We thank all of you so much for your kindness.

Sincerely,
The Interdonato Family