Sadly, Mike Mayers passed away on Dec. 31, 2011 please keep his family in your prayers.
On July 22, 2011, Mike Mayers, 62, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, also referred to as AML. He is scheduled to have a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant the first week of December at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Mike was born in Portage, PA and resides there with his wife, Annette (Kutyba). Their children are Jennie, married to Mike Battista (Olympia, WA); Becky, married to Marty Coffee (Portage); Jessie, married to Marc Popchak (Coudersport, PA); and Matt (Portage). They are also the proud grandparents of six grandchildren – Colton, Allison, Zachary, Jamie, Macie and Lucas. Mike is the brother of Connie, married to Tim Illig (Ebensburg); Jeff, married to Patty Perala (Madison, WI) and Sue (Ambler, PA).
Mike was a teacher at Portage Area Elementary and High Schools and was also a high school wrestling coach. Mike and Annette owned Mayers Insurance Agency in Portage, previously owned by his parents, John B. (deceased) and Margery Mayers and then worked for CBIZ Insurance Services for 16 years. After moving back to Portage about three years ago, he worked at S&T-Evergreen Insurance at the time he was diagnosed.
Mike has asked that his family plan a Bone Marrow Screening & Replenishment Blood Drive in Portage so that he can replace some of the blood and platelets that he has used. The Blood Donor Drive is scheduled for December 12th with the flyer and information posted on this site. This drive also offers the opportunity to join the “Be The Match Registry®, the national registry for bone marrow donors. Please donate in Mike’s honor!
Since Mike’s diagnosis in July, his health insurance has not covered any travel-related expenses for his family for the many trips necessary to Pittsburgh for treatments, doctor visits and testing. After Mike’s stem cell transplant, he is required to reside within 30 minutes of West Penn Hospital for up to 100 days for daily visits to the hospital to monitor his progress. Mike’s insurance will not cover these additional expenses as well.
To help Mike and his family cover these related expenses before, during and after the transplant, the family has established an account at 1st Summit Bank. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and can be sent to 1st Summit Bank, 924 Main Street, Portage, PA 15946. Checks should be made payable to “Family & Friends of Mike Mayers”.
This GROUP has been created to post activities and updates, but most importantly to create a communication tool between Mike’s family and friends who want to be involved in some way.
Friends can track Mike’s progress and send well wishes to him and his family on www.caringbridge.org. Once you register on the site, Mike’s information can be found on the ‘mikemayers’ link.
Mike and his family extend a sincere and heartfelt ‘thank you’ in advance for your support and help.