Dear Friends and Family,
I have a very special request of you this holiday season. If you know me well, you know how much my sister Michele means to me. This past year has been more difficult than I could ever imagine, for myself… but more importantly for my sister and her family. There are several people I know who can’t live without her, me being one of them.
As you shop for holiday gifts over the next few weeks, please take the flyer below into department stores and grocery stores. Ask to speak to the manager and tell them Michele’s story. Tell them about her children and husband, and what they’ve all endured the past year. Many stores have an alottment of gift cards they can give away for charitable reasons. How great would it be for us to present John and his family with a stack of gift cards to make this a great Christmas!
Regardless of the lifestyle any of us lead, the O’Donnell Family needs our help right now, and I for one am not ashamed or embarrassed to ask for your help. I would do anything for them, so please help me with my fundraiser! John has no idea I’m doing this, but I think he’ll catch on when the gift cards come rolling in.
Please send the gift cards to the address below. On the outside of your envelope write “Amy’s Fundraiser”.
THANK YOU ALL!!!
Michele’s Partner in Crime, Amy
The O’Donnell Family – 1856 Alma Lane Superior, CO 80027
For those of you out of state, our local grocery stores are Safeway, Alberstons, Whole Foods and Kroger Stores.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On January 27, 2010 Michele O’Donnell fell and suffered an acute subdural hematoma, requiring emergency surgery to save her life. She was in Cancun, Mexico on vacation with her family, and spent the next month in ICU fighting for her life in and out of comas, and enduring a multitude of infections in the hospital in Mexico. Her husband John was by her side the entire time.
When Michele was stable enough to fly back to the United States on a Medivac flight, John was by her side when they landed on US soil. It was an emotional day for her entire family. Although the family lives in Colorado, the closest flight from Mexico was to Miami, Florida, as Michele's safety was priority. She spent the next 2 months in ICU, enduring another hematoma, several surgeries and another round of infections. There was no real prognosis of Michele’s recovery, it was a constant waiting game and there were no clear answers or solutions to her injuries. John remained by her side in Miami, and flew the kids down during Easter when things looked like they were taking a turn for the worse.
In April, Michele was stable enough to make the trip home to Colorado on another Medivac flight with John. She endured another surgery, replacing the portion of her skull that was removed and discarded in Miami. She spent another 2 weeks in ICU before being transferred to an acute care hospital for 5 months, a skilled nursing facility for 2 months, and is currently going through intense physical, occupational and speech therapy for 50 days in a specialized rehab facility for patients with brain injuries.
Michele O’Donnell is the mother of 4 children, Billy 18, Tana 16, Alyssa 14, and John John 9. She is married to her high school sweetheart, John of nearly 20 years. Michele has always lived her life to the fullest and truly enjoys being a mother and wife. She loves to cook, and created her own cookbook for friends and family of recipes that she has created over the years. Her home is her domain, and is a place where Michele entertains friends and family often, for any occasion.
We hope that Michele regains the ability to walk and talk, so that she can lead the life she deserves to lead. As before, her life will be dedicated to raising her children and enjoying a fulfilling marriage with her husband. Her husband and 4 children are clearly her purpose for living. YOU MAY FOLLOW MICHELE’S RECOVERY AT http://www.miraclemichele.blogspot.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment