Before a cancer patient can call themselves a cancer survivor, they face a long and difficult road. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery — it can be a lot. Michael Ruebusch was diagnosed with oral and neck cancers. He soon learned that the emotional hardships were just as bad as the physical ones.

That’s why having you in his corner means so much.

“The mental health aspect of recovering from an illness is just as important as the physical part,” Michael says. “There were moments in recovery when I needed to talk with people who truly understood.”

Michael’s care team at Mercy Health — The Jewish Hospital introduced him to the Head and Neck Cancer Support Group. You support this group, and others like it, with your generous gift. For Michael, the group became more than just meetings. It became a lifeline for physical and spiritual healing.

“Hearing other survivor stories, sharing challenges and learning from all the experiences helped me realize I wasn’t alone,” Michael says.

Thanks to your generosity, Michael also benefits from music therapists, family care specialists, and even reduced-cost lymphedema massages. All of this is offered through donor-supported programs. Without it, Michael believes his road to healing would have been far more isolating.

“This group gave me a community to belong to. It gave my wife support, too,” he says.

Michael is now cancer free. He credits this group with helping both his physical and mental recovery.

“Cancer doesn’t just impact one person’s life, but their family’s life as well. I’m thankful to donors for helping me find a community that wants to help each other.”