Mike Thompson was a believer in people and in possibilities. “And with Mike,” says his wife, Michelle, “if he believed, you just believed it too. With all of your heart and soul.” That belief carried him through three years of treatment for Stage 4 colorectal cancer, and it continues to inspire his family today.
Known for his kindness, humor, and relentless determination, Mike brought these qualities to everything he did—in his career, in marriage, and in life. He met Michelle in college, never imagining how their lives would unfold together. “He never thought he’d settle down or have kids, and I never thought I’d leave Michigan,” Michelle says. “We changed the trajectory of each other’s lives.” In 2005, the couple moved to Charlotte for Mike’s job at NASCAR Productions. They married in 2009 and raised three children—Hunter, Sophie, and Dylan—creating a life and home filled with adventures.
Mike had always been healthy and energetic, so it was concerning when he began feeling unusually tired in 2019. Lab work revealed he was severely anemic, and a colonoscopy confirmed a devastating diagnosis of Stage 4 colorectal cancer with metastasis to the liver. He was 39 years old. “It was like an out-of-body experience,” Michelle remembers. “When the doctor said the words, I couldn’t believe it.”
Just a month later, the COVID-19 pandemic began. Through three major surgeries, more than 40 chemotherapy treatments, immunotherapy, and radiation, Mike faced every challenge with quiet strength and eternal optimism. His scans came back clear twice, offering moments of hope. “But cancer had other plans,” says Michelle. Surrounded by family, Mike passed away on April 27, 2023.
“We didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but we’re so grateful to his care team at Levine Cancer,” says Michelle. “They gave us time—real, meaningful time as a family. Dr. Mohamed Salem and his team rearranged chemo schedules so we could take vacations and make memories. They made sure Mike could be a dad first, and a patient second.”
Today, Michelle is continuing Mike’s legacy through action. This spring, she hosted a fundraising kickoff event in his memory, raising more than $22,000 to establish a fund supporting colorectal and gastrointestinal cancer care at Atrium Health Levine Cancer in Greater Charlotte.
“I feel like Mike’s story isn’t over,” she says. “That’s why I started fundraising—to honor him, to thank the people who cared for him like family, and to help other families have hope.” Michelle plans to continue fundraising to ensure patients have the care and support they need—just as Mike and their family did. Click here to join her in continuing Mike’s legacy of hope.
Left: On a family outing at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mike was determined to reach Lake Michigan—despite steep dunes, tired kids, and little water—exemplifying the perseverance he brought to every challenge in life. Right: After hosting a successful fundraiser, Michelle and two of her children, Sophie and Dylan, joined Mike’s oncologist, Dr. Mohamed Salem, to celebrate raising over $22,000 for Levine Cancer in Charlotte.