Michael Bohay, who is now five years old, has been diagnosed with tumors in his tongue, the floor of his mouth, chin and throat called vascular malformations.

He has suffered with this condition since birth and went through his first surgery when he was a few months old. When Michael was born, his tongue hung half-way out of his mouth until the first of his six surgeries. More lesions developed on the floor of his mouth, under his tongue and have grown down into his chin.

 Michael's lesions are actually abnormal clusters of blood or lymph vessels outside the normal circulatory system. As the lesions grow larger,  they divert blood from the primary circulatory system, causing the heart to pump more than it should. Left untreated, the lesions can become life threatening.

Vascular malformations are found in 1-4% of the population.

Although some malformations can be associated with genetic defects, most are sporadic, nonfamilial aberrations. Vascular malformations may arise from errors in the embryologic formation of vascular components at 8 weeks' gestation. Agents that inhibit cell migration and mesenchyme differentiation at this stage of development may lead to vascular malformations. No single agent has been attributed to the creation of vascular malformations. Mutations in the gene encoding for the receptor tyrosine kinase (TIE2) are associated with some familial venous malformations.

Classification of vascular malformations remains controversial. In some situations, venous abnormalities may coexist with lymphatic and arterial malformations. Some malformations proliferate and are associated with true tumors. Vascular malformations are usually present at birth and grow commensurate with the child. If the lesion is deep, it may not be visible at birth.

Michael has undergone multiple MRI's, CT's, and has had 6 surgeries so far. He went through his 6th surgery on his birthday, June 26, 2006. Each subsequent surgery has removed another portion of Michael's tongue. With this most recent surgery, Michael has close to nothing left, and he isn't able to speak very well. What little tongue he has left is being shoved up and back into his throat, putting him at risk for sleep apnea or sudden death.

There is a procedure that can help Michael

Until recently, Michael's mother, Cynthia-Ann Knifechief, believed that cutting out the tumors was the only treatment for her son's disease.

Dr. Wayne Yakes, a specialist at  the Vascular Malformation Center at the Swedish Medical Center in Denver, Colorado has seen pictures of Michael and has spoken with his mother ,Cynthia-Ann Knifechief. Dr. Yates has said he can help Michael, but because  he is out of state, Michael’s medical insurance will not cover the cost. We are working to gather funds for this inovative but very expensive, alternative and less invasive procedure that will help save what's left of Michael’s tongue, and ultimately his life.

Dr. Yakes is an an interventional radiologist who  specializes in treating Michael's type of condition.

Dr Yakes has successfully been treating vascular malformations by injecting ethanol - a substance similar to grain alcohol - into the arteries that supply blood to the area. Alcohol injections are much less invasive than surgery, and work by scarring the lining of the arteries that supply blood to the lesion areas, preventing further growth.

Since alcohol is a toxin that has an inflammatory effect, multiple treatments are necessary to avoid complications. Michael will require approximately ten treatments, at a cost of $45,000.00 each, nearly half a million dollars. Michael's mother is in the process of fighting with her Medi-Cal insurance to pay for the cost of the treatments doctors want to perform on Michael. However, Medi-Cal does not provide benefits for procedures performed outside the state of California.

Although injecting alcohol into Michael's type of tumor is not a new practice, Dr. Yates is one of a handful of physicians who  specialize in the procedure. For now, his mother will have to find a way to get Michael to Colorado and hopefully avoid subsequent surgeries.

How You Can Help Michael Get the Medical Care He Needs

These huge costs for the treatments that may save Michael's life are way beyond the means of Michael's family to raise by themselves and they need your help to save Michael.


We are asking your assistance. We are hoping to gather funds to pay for the alternative, and less invasive procedures performed by Dr. Yakes.

This is an urgent request so PLEASE provide any information or financial assistance you can that may help save Michael's tongue and ultimately his life. PLEASE HELP!!!

Trust accounts have been set up for Michael at The Credit Union Of Southern California and at Bank of America. You can send your donation to:

The Credit Union Of Southern California
8028 Greenleaf Ave.
Whittier, CA 90602

or send them to any

Bank of America

Please make Checks payable to "Michael Bohay"

Thank you for your support.