This is our friend Mike Okonzak. I've known him for years but Eric has known him longer and has been close with him since they were teenagers. Eric's told me story after story about the fun they've had, the hard life Mike's lived (including watching his own mother die of an overdose) and now Mike has taken on the role of father to a son that isn't his, biologically. He's one of those people that everybody loves because you can see the goodness in his eyes when he talks to you. His smile is one of those smiles that can't help but be contagious.
I have my own stories about Mike, most involving late nights drinking and laughing. He's one of the nicest men I've ever met and he's always quick to make a joke that will leave your sides aching from laughter. He's an amazing chef and works his ass off, putting in 50-60 hour weeks at the restaurant he works at by but even with all that work, he still can't afford health insurance.
And he just found out he has a Colloid Cyst in his brain that needs to be surgically removed. And he has to pay for it out of pocket.
I am never one to ask for help but Mike absolutely needs it.
If you live in the Buffalo area, please come to his benefit on June 30th. If you don't, please consider donating to his surgery fund and/or reblogging this. I would be eternally grateful!
I don't even know if I'm writing this properly because it hurts me inside to know he needs a surgery he can't afford for something so scary. I can't even imagine needing brain surgery, let alone not being able to pay for it. It makes me furious that we live in a country where great people like him have to live without insurance. It's not fair He doesn't deserve the stress that comes with worrying about being sick and having to figure out how to pay for a potentially life saving surgery.
Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you in advance for passing this on or donating!
