Couple selling snarky cancer t-shirts to help with cancer battle

Michael Kimmel is battling a brain tumor.

The Dubois County native was diagnosed with a grade 2 tumor in 2013. he underwent surgery to remove as much of it as possible. This was followed with chemotherapy. Unfortunately, in 2020, doctors performed another surgery to remove portions of the tumor that were left from the first surgery and found that it had progressed to grade 4. Doctors started chemotherapy and added radiation therapy.

Then, in April, Michael went through a final surgery — a laser treatment to remove more of the tumor.

According to his wife, Tawnee, he now has radiation necrosis, an inflammatory reaction to radiation causing swelling in his brain. This has caused him to have problems speaking, and he has weakness on his right side. “He can no longer use his right hand and is now starting to have some trouble with walking,” she said.

The radiation necrosis can only be treated with steroids to control the swelling.

The 34-year-old isn’t working now due to all that he is going through. To help with expenses and assist with appointments as Tawnee takes time off work, the couple have set up a special fundraiser through a special website selling a custom t-shirt. Here is a link to the sales page.