To those of you who offered to help Michelle, once again, words cannot express her gratitude or how much your support has renewed her belief in the basic goodness of other people.

To those of you who chose to criticize her because she is “living off the government”, perhaps you should think twice before you choose to cast stones. Since Michelle went on disability five years ago, she has suffered extreme back pain and had to give up her security job and working as a paramedic (jobs which she got into so she could help other people). She would go back to work in a minute if it meant not having to suffer the physical pain and the mental and emotional torment of those who see only her as too lazy to work. Despite her own physical condition she did not hesitate to take her father in and care for him when he could not care for himself (and helped him become independent once he recovered). The same kindness is extended to anyone she knows who needs help. She gives of herself and shares what little she has to help others. Michelle lives in an unsafe neighborhood because she cannot afford to move and struggles many days to just get out of bed and walk. Shortly after her Dad died, Michelle refused to be hospitalized for walking pneumonia because she needed to be home to make the countless calls trying to get her Dad buried, even while she was being pressured by his landlord to get his apartment cleared out. A few days before her story aired, Michelle’s car broke down and she cannot afford to fix or replace it so she now must depend on the kindness of friends to provide transportation even to pick up her Dad’s ashes and attend the memorial service. Yet with all she was going through, the only thing she asked for was help in honoring her father and ensuring no other family had to suffer the same humiliation and degradation she has endured. SHE NEVER ASKED A THING FOR HERSELF AND CONDUCTED HERSELF WITH DIGNITY THROUGHOUT!!! In the last few years this young lady has endured things which would cause most people to simply give up on life or to become very bitter. Yet Michelle not only found the courage to fight for her father’s honor, but for other families even as she continues to fight for her own survival each day. She has more compassion and spirit than anyone else I know.

So next time you want to put someone down because they are disabled, think twice. It could happen to you and I doubt that most of us would handle the same circumstances with as much poise, grace and spirit as Michelle has.

I AM VERY, VERY PROUD OF HER!!!!!