Mike was born and raised in Southern California in a middle-class family. His dad worked as a postal carrier, and his mom stayed home. As a teenager, he developed a love for surfing.

He spent nearly 30 years working as a truck driver. Over the years, he lived in several places, including Georgia, where he continued driving for about 10 years, and Las Vegas, where he lived for roughly 20 years.

In 2019, Mike developed a large blister on his foot that began bleeding, but due to neuropathy, he couldn’t feel it. Although he was initially told it would heal within two months, the wound did not improve, and he was eventually hospitalized for a few months.

Afterward, Mike moved to Illinois to live with his nephew, where he stayed for five years. In 2024, his daughter and son-in-law encouraged him to move to Minnesota to be closer to them and his grandchildren.

Adjusting to Minnesota has been a change for Mike—he jokes that it feels like there are only three weeks of summer! While he enjoys looking at the snow, he prefers not to be out in it.

Because it can be difficult for him to get around, Mike spends much of his time in his apartment. He’s looking forward to having a phone companion—someone to connect with and chat with regularly outside of his family.