Account set up at Madison County Community Bank and fundraiser to be held for Big Mike Woods
By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Mike Woods recalls the day he met Tori Webb.
“It was the best day of my life,” he said.
Mike Woods had come to Madison from Tennessee after receiving a basketball scholarship at North Florida Junior College. He and Tori fell in love. They have been married for over 30 years. They have two children, Ashley, who is 29 and married to Edward Hutchinson; and Adam.
Ashley and Edward have produced two grandchildren for them. Their son, Hagan, and daughter, Kaitlyn proudly called Mike and Tori “Papaw” and “Memaw.”
Mike uprooted himself from Tennessee and has called Madison his home since his days at NFJC. Many people know him as their former door-to-door insurance man, working for Gulf Life and AGLA for 18 years. They also remember him as a volunteer firefighter with 17 years experience. They remember him as the District 5 County Commission, serving from 1996-2000. Still others remember him fondly as the owner of Big Mike’s Produce. He had to close that store because he was weakened by having to take dialysis.
Big Mike has polycystic kidney disease. He has had to rely on dialysis for the past two years in order for his kidney to function.
Polysistic kidney disease (PKD) is a disease that can be fatal. The average life expectancy for PKD, according to the American Kidney Fund is five to six years. If Big Mike could get a kidney transplant, it could save his life. The trouble with that is that he is not on the transplant list due to his weight.
To lose weight, Big Mike would need lap band surgery; however, Big Mike’s insurance company will not pay for a procedure they consider cosmetic. Despite doctor’s pleas and appeals to the insurance commissioner, state representatives and the insurance commissioner, they insurance company has not bent yet.
Doctors say the lap band, in Mike’s case, could be a life-saving procedure because it would enable him to possibly receive a kidney transplant. They also say that he has also needed knee replacements for years. The surgeries could help Big Mike get his life back.
Big Mike’s daughter, Ashley, has decided not to wait for insurance companies to decide her father’s fate, so she is asking for help.
The lap band surgery will cost $19,500, not including the travel expenses and Tori’s loss of pay during Big Mike’s recovery. There would also be extra cost for travel and pay loss during Big Mike’s transplant surgery.
On Saturday evening, Oct. 8, there will be a cake auction and a benefit gospel concert featuring LifeSong, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Madison Woman’s Club.
Donations of any kind will be accepted. As noted before, there will be a cake auction. The auction will feature the delicious Amish cakes, formerly sold at Big Mike’s Produce. Flavors include sour cream pound cake, Italian cream cheesecake, caramel cake, carrot cake, hummingbird cake and other favorites.
An account has also been set up at Madison County Community Bank under “Big Mike’s Medical Expense.” Donations may also be made there.
“I know I’m asking a lot, but Dad’s life is on the life,” Ashley said. “I just want him to have a fighting chance.”
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