Strangers and friends have raised more than $150,000 for a Seattle man’s experimental life-saving cancer treatment after he found out his insurance wouldn’t cover it, as reported by SWNS.

Matt Maclean, 49, was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer after noticing blood in his stool in October 2020.

While sitting in the waiting room, he noticed the doctor pause before walking in — and immediately knew it wasn’t good news.

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Maclean, a small business owner and father of two, said it was a surreal moment. “My wife Elizabeth was with me, and it hit her more than me,” he said, per SWNS. 

“When you hear the word ‘cancer,’ you feel a sense of dread, but I also felt a sense of peace because of my faith.”

After getting a full-body scan to see if the cancer had spread, Maclean began treatment.

In September 2021, after undergoing months of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, Maclean was declared in remission, but continued to be monitored for any changes.

After one year, a test showed that his blood cancer markers had begun to rise, but a CT scan showed no signs of tumors.

‘Low point’

In spring 2024, a follow-up CT scan showed that Maclean had a significant tumor in his liver. He then underwent a successful liver resection.

This discovery put him at a stage four diagnosis. “That was a low point — I would say it was harder than my original diagnosis,” he said, according to SWNS.

The following surgery to remove the tumor was successful, but an MRI scan a month later showed two more tumors.

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Doctors then decided to try a dual approach where they would operate to remove the tumor and then perform localized chemotherapy.

In November 2024, three additional tumors were discovered during surgery, so doctors stopped the procedure, as they believed more surgery could promote the growth of additional tumors.

“When you hear the word ‘cancer,’ you feel a sense of dread, but I also felt a sense of peace because of my faith.”

“When I got out of surgery, I was shocked that they didn’t do anything,” Maclean said. “I had to overcome all that emotion, but the doctor did the right thing.”

After finding out he had five cancerous tumors, Maclean flew to IYA Medical in Scottsdale, Arizona, for localized chemotherapy.

In September 2021, Maclean was in remission. In spring of 2024, a follow-up CT scan showed that he had a significant tumor in his liver. (Beth Maclean / SWNS)

In January 2025, a follow-up MRI scan and blood test showed that the tumors were still there — the chemotherapy didn’t work.

“That was tough; I was getting scared at this point,” he said.

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“It has been a burden for them,” he said of his children. “They have the fear that they are going to lose their dad. That breaks my heart more than anything.” 

“It has been very tough on my wife, too — she is our rock, and she has been nothing but supportive through this whole thing.”

‘Sheer generosity’

After finding out the chemotherapy didn’t work, Maclean discovered Verthermia, a Texas company specializing in full-body hyperthermic extracorporeal applied tumor therapy (HEATT).

This alternative type of cancer treatment uses a heart-lung machine to heat a patient’s blood outside the body as a means of shrinking tumors.

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Despite having FDA approval, the treatment is classified as experimental by Maclean’s insurance provider, so they don’t cover it.

Matt Maclean is pictured with his wife, Beth, and two teenage children, Josh (18) and Rachel (16). (Beth MacLean / SWNS)

That meant the father of two would have to raise more than $150,000 to pay for the treatment. 

After posting a funding page, Maclean said he was “blown away” by the outpouring of support from strangers and members of his community.

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“My kids shared it with their friends, and I can’t even begin to tell you how many of them responded,” he said, per SWNS. “Even now, I am still in shock; I am overwhelmed by the sheer generosity people have shown to me.”

Maclean said he was touched by the outpouring of support. “Even now, I am still in shock; I am overwhelmed by the sheer generosity people have shown to me,” he said. (Beth MacLean / SWNS)

“The money doesn’t mean anything to me, more so it was realizing just how good people can be,” he added.

Maclean has booked an appointment for treatment at Verthermia on March 6, 2025, and is hopeful the treatment will be successful.

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“I’m hopeful that I will ultimately beat this thing, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support and love from my community and family.”

Following the swearing in of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., MAHA Alliance and MAHA Action CEO Del Bigtree held a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., last week.

Bigtree announced the launch of MAHA.io, which will stand independent of Kennedy’s official position and give Americans a site to access all things MAHA. 

“MAHA.IO will be more than a platform — it will be the hub of the MAHA movement, transforming America’s healthcare narrative from treating disease to promoting wellness, empowering individuals to chart a new health journey,” a MAHA spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

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The grassroots movement has shifted toward amplifying Kennedy’s initiatives under the Trump administration after rallying support around his vision for health and wellness reform.

“At MAHA.io, we deliver a transformative approach to health and wellness by reimagining every dimension of well-being; physical, mental, social, and environmental,” the site says on its homepage. “Our unique value lies in seamlessly integrating innovative media, state-of-the-art technology, and holistic health solutions to empower individuals and communities.”

MAHA advocated for policies such as improved access to holistic healthcare, vaccine transparency, in-depth examination of the food industry and reducing corporate influence on public health. 

Bigtree announced that the MAHA groups will continue to grow and magnify Kennedy’s health vision for Americans. 

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The hub will create a network of a national directory of doctors “who prioritize lifestyle adjustments over prescription drugs,” says the site.

Health experts and influencers will be featured who touch on aspects of the MAHA agenda. 

The platform, MAHA.io, will stand independent of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s official position. Kennedy was sworn in last week as the Health and Human Services secretary in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

The space will also create support communities of people both online and in-person who are “dedicated to self-improvement, healing and wellness.“

The MAHA movement will be narrowing in on legislation at both the state and national level.

A database will be built that tracks legislation — indicating whether the proposed legislation is “anti-MAHA” or “MAHA approved.”

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“You’re going to be able to track your representatives on how well they’re voting on major issues,” said Bigtree.

Bigree told Fox News Digital, “We’re making America healthy again.”

He added that this “means nobody should be going it alone. We’re going to build an online community to support our local community efforts, and MAHA.IO is where we all come together for that common purpose.” 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is sworn in as secretary of Health and Human Services. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

At the presser, Bigtree held up vaccine inserts, saying he hopes Kennedy brings back informed consent and that patients should be looking at the side effects and ingredients in vaccines.

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“Robert Kennedy Jr. doesn’t need to eradicate any vaccine from the program. He just needs to show you how long the safety trial was,” Bigtree said.

“He just needs to make [that] available to you and make sure the doctors give you true informed consent that these are known side effects, that we haven’t done proper trials to know how long they would be,” Bigtree added.

“The world just changed today.”

In a recent exclusive interview on “The Ingraham Angle,” Kennedy said there needs to be more disruptors in the health policy space.

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“Not going to let the food industry and pharmaceutical industry run health policy anymore,” said Kennedy.

At the press conference in Washington, D.C., last week, Bigtree acknowledged that Kennedy is stepping into his new role.

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“The world just changed today,” he said.

As the health of Americans comes into sharper focus with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, women’s health needs to be a priority, says one expert.

Functional medicine provider Dr. Austin Lake of Tulsa, Oklahoma, specializes in treating women with hormonal imbalances, autoimmune conditions and chronic diseases.

In an on-camera interview with Fox News Digital, Lake said that before the MAHA movement, he met with many “frustrated” women who suffered chronic health problems, as well as mothers and grandmothers who worried about their children’s health. (See the video at the top of this article.)

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“When RFK came on the scene … and started to give it a title, Make America Healthy Again just made sense,” he said. 

“There’s plenty of stats and evidence that indicates there is a huge need for a movement like this, because our people are struggling,” added Lake. 

For women in particular, Lake highlighted a few key issues the MAHA movement is likely to tackle.

Pesticide exposure

Exposure to glyphosate, an herbicide that is often sprayed on crops as a pesticide, could block the body’s ability to fight off cancer, according to Lake. 

“Not only does it strip minerals and key nutrients from our food, it also takes away key healing components that would prevent something like cancer from being formed,” he noted.

Glyphosate, which is sprayed on some crops as a pesticide, can have adverse health effects, according to experts. (iStock)

“One of the chemotherapy drugs they use to fight off cancer is in our food, but it’s blocked by glyphosate.”

The doctor suggested that local farmers should protect their crops in a way that is safer for consumers.

Fluoride in water

While cancer impacts both men and women, fluoride in U.S. water sources could have a more severe effect on women’s health, Lake suggested.

Amid continued debate about the pros and cons of fluoride, new research has shown that ingesting the chemical can lead to lower IQs in children and can be harmful to the thyroid, which is a common issue among women.

Fluoride in U.S. water sources could have a more severe effect on women’s health, suggested one doctor (not pictured).  (iStock)

“[Fluoride] reduces iodine in the human body because it competes for absorption, so now all of a sudden you have more of these thyroid problems,” the doctor said.

While thyroid medication is one of the most prescribed drugs in the world for women, Lake noted, “it doesn’t actually fix the problem.”

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“But if you look at things like fluoride and the deficiency of minerals in our food, and then you start to compound that with poor air quality, high stress, a lot of workload and family life and inability to make ends meet … it becomes a pretty big, noticeable problem,” he said.

Infertility and reproductive issues

With high stress levels among American women, Lake predicted there will be a “continuation of infertility” without larger efforts to protect women’s health.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the birth rate in America has dropped to a historic low, decreasing by 3% since 2022.

One major concern among women is severe symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), Lake noted.

The birth rate in America has hit a historic low, according to research, as reproductive challenges in women arise. (iStock)

“We’ve normalized severe PMS,” he said. “I think a lot of women have figured [that it’s] pretty common – having menstrual cramping right before a cycle or having debilitating pain or the inability to feel energized leading up to a cycle … But that’s not normal stuff.”

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Many women’s health conditions can be linked to lifestyle factors, including inflammatory foods and chronic stress, Lake said.

Certain deficiencies can “directly influence a woman’s fertile window and how she feels leading up to it and her ability to make life,” he noted.

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More American women are also being diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which causes a variety of symptoms such as irregular periods, weight gain, and difficulty becoming or staying pregnant.

Lake said that an imbalance in hormonal pathways can increase PCOS risk. “For most women with PCOS, the underlying root cause is insulin resistance, which means your body is unable to properly manage energy.”

PCOS can be linked to insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, causing a variety of symptoms.  (iStock)

PCOS is also linked to chronic inflammation, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, which can then worsen insulin resistance.

Food, environmental factors, sleep, high stress and deficiencies can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation, Lake noted — leading to an “inability to detox properly so that your body is not getting rid of these things.”

“It’s my belief that God created our bodies to heal. Like He says, ‘Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made.’”

“[Women] are exposed to the same foods and environmental challenges that men are, but they have these added components, specifically with their adrenal glands, that then affect their output of things like progesterone,” he said — which is “super important for hormonal balance.”

Unhealthy food choices

Better food choices for Americans should start in schools and hospitals, Lake suggested, where decisions can be made to stop serving what’s cheapest and start serving what’s best for young children, elderly people and those with illnesses.

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“There’s no question that it’s worth investing in good, healthy food, but a lot of people have just been sold the lie that food doesn’t have a huge impact on your health and that there must be some genetic component as to why they’re struggling,” he told Fox News Digital.

“We have to start to bring more awareness to this and make sure people are shown that their actions have consequences — and that their good choices also have positive consequences.”

Certain deficiencies can “directly influence a woman’s fertile window” and her “ability to make life,” Lake said. (iStock)

People should know their bodies have the capability to heal themselves, Lake emphasized.

“If you feel hopeless, your ability to put effort into making these small changes is going to be really diminished,” he said. 

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“It’s my belief that God created our bodies to heal. Like He says, ‘Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made.’”

Ultimately, Lake said, leading healthier lifestyles becomes easier with the support of the government and corporations that are “actually making good products.”

Minnesota has declared a state of emergency as multiple strains of bird flu have ravaged farms.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) stated in a press release that the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority (RFA) Board established the emergency following three outbreaks.

Those included avian metapneumovirus (aMPV), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and the H5N1 flu virus.

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The state of emergency allows Minnesota farmers who have experienced livestock losses to access funds through zero-interest disaster recovery loans, according to the above source.

An MDA spokesperson confirmed with Fox News Digital that this declaration is a “formality the Rural Finance Authority Board must take in order to open up the Disaster Recovery Loan Program to farmers.” 

“The declaration has no impact beyond that and affects no other funding or programs.”

The loan program provides funds for expenses not covered by insurance, according to the MDA, including replacement of flocks or livestock, building improvements, or loss of revenue due to animal disease outbreaks.

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Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen wrote in a statement that this is an “important step in helping Minnesota farmers affected by these three animal health diseases.” 

“I encourage those who have faced livestock losses to explore these zero-interest loans,” he added.

avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) is a “highly infectious respiratory disease” that affects poultry and can cause “significant immunosuppression” in birds, as well as secondary infections and high mortality, according to the MDA.

USDA workers disinfect a work crew at a Jennie-O turkey farm in Eden Valley, Minnesota, on April 30, 2015, amid a bird flu outbreak. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

Since April 2024, Minnesota has reported 871 aMPV positive tests, which is “likely an undercount,” health officials said.

HPAI — which is a contagious, viral and fatal disease — has also posed a “major threat” to the poultry industry, MDA reported.

In Minnesota, there have been 185 cases of HPAI confirmed since March 2022, affecting 9.1 million domestic birds, mostly turkeys.

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H5N1, also known as avian influenza or bird flu, causes the same virus in poultry as HPAI, but can also affect dairy cows and other animals.

Bird flu strains have also spread to humans, including a dairy worker in Nevada who was infected by a new type (D1.1) last week, as Fox News Digital previously reported.

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Sam Scarpino, director of AI and life sciences and professor of health sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, previously said that he considers the ongoing U.S. bird flu outbreak as “serious.”

Bird flu cases have risen across the U.S. and have infected some humans. (iStock)

“We now have at least two distinct H5N1 strains (akin to variants if we were discussing COVID-19) that have infected dairy cattle, poultry and humans,” he told Fox News Digital. “The H5N1 situation in the U.S. continues to get worse, not better.”

Scarpino shared his approval of the recent choice of Dr. Gerald Parker to run the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy. 

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“His appointment signals that the federal government is giving the H5N1 situation the attention it needs,” he said.

“From the perspective of both the building agricultural costs and continued risk of human infection, we have to bring this H5N1 outbreak under control.”