Mike Rinder: A class act we’re proud to call a friend

About a week ago, Mike Rinder let us know that he was experiencing some health issues, and that he was awaiting test results to determine what was going on.

Yesterday, his wife Christie Collbran revealed publicly what they had learned: Mike has advanced esophageal cancer which is being driven by a mutation of a gene in his blood.

She said that they have an excellent medical team in place and that there is reason to be optimistic, which we were relieved to hear.

Naturally, there's been an outpouring of support for Mike, who in September released his monumental book, A Billion Years: My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology.

If you've read the book, you know that he frames it as a father who regretted getting his children into Scientology, and that he believes that anyone can change the path they're on and rethink, for example, their connection to something as toxic and totalitarian as L. Ron Hubbard's invention.

We've been fortunate to know Mike for more than a decade. We first met him when we flew down to Florida and interviewed him for The Village Voice.

But since then he's been more than just someone we turn to for quotes on stories. He's been a great friend, particularly when we've turned to him for advice when Scientology's elaborate retaliation operations have been aimed at our family members.

Mike's willingness to help us out during those periods told us so much about him and his integrity. And he never asked for anything in return.

We hope that as he goes through this challenging adventure, you will join us in offering him the kind of support he offered us when we were going through a scary time.

— Your Proprietor

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Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history

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