Good Morning Wish-Granters!
Miss Michelle is every working parent's dream come true. Michelle is a teacher in my child's KinderPea daycare room at Little Sprouts, and pours her heart and love into these kids on a daily basis. Her passion for the preschoolers is evident in every project, hug, and morning smile. In fact, Michelle is such a rock - you'd never know that this holiday season is met with difficult and untimely challenges. She's a mom of 4 great kids, a pseudo-mom to (20) 4 yr olds, & she is a daughter to her very ill parents.
Michelle and her kids moved in with her parents in order to help, as they have both been struck with devastating illness. Her mom fought hard with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma; and unfortunately, she was recently diagnosed with a secondary cancer, Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Her mom needs uninterrupted care and relies on Michelle for a lot of help. Most recently though, her mom has been hospitalized with a lung infection and is too ill to return home.
Additionally, Michelle had previously been able to rely heavily on her dad to help with childcare, until his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease landed him in the hospital. He was discharged from the hospital to a transitional care facility. Due to mold in their family home, the environmental conditions are unsafe for him to be there post-hospitalization. Resources are now completely diminished on the home front.
Her mom’s AML, and her dad’s Parkinson’s are both contributing greatly to the weight of health scares during this supposed “happy season”. Family time is compromised with these ongoing challenges, and the bills are piling up as Michelle supports all 7 people on a preschool teacher's budget. Her heart & wallet are being torn in many different directions, really compromising their abilities to stay afloat. Despite these insurmountable challenges, Michelle’s unwavering dedication & commitment to her preschool class has never ever faltered.
My biggest wish for Michelle and her family doesn't come in the form of one appliance or any particular item really, but more in the form of FAMILY. I'd love for Michelle and her loved ones to receive the gift of assistance and activities that will bring them all closer together in this time of great need. Fun items could include board games, crafts, or events...something to support their togetherness as a family. Some necessities would be appreciated as well. Her kids Ryder, Emma, Tucker, and Gracie could all use fresh bed sheets; no sheets for Michelle as she has to sleep on the couch or crash with a kid.
Family time is absolutely priceless. I’d love nothing more for this family to create memories for a lifetime, amidst the hardships they’ve encountered this year. Michelle’s love and support for my daughter and all of her students is admirable, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving.
We were so excited to grant this Christmas Wish for Michelle and her family!
For the Thao family we gave a $1,000 Coborns Delivers Gift Card, $101 SuperAmerica Gift Card, $200 SMAAASH Game Card, $100 Masu Sushi gift card, 30 Rounds of golf at Glow in One Mini Golf, 5 Large Red Savoy’s Pizzas, Xbox One courtesy of Pepsi and Vizio 48” Plasma screen TV! Games like Uno, Sorry! and Pie Face for family game night.
For Michelle, a brand new box spring, bed fram and mattress thanks to our friends at HOM Furniture! $125 Massage Retreat & Spa Gift Card, Vera Bradley wallet courtesy of Pepsi, bed sheets & pillows, robe & slippers and a new purse! Emma received a new bedding set, Just Dance for Xbox One, Taylor Swift's Reputation, Demi Lovato's Tell Me Your Love Me and clothes. Tucker and Gracie both received new bedding sets LEGOs and clothing.
We couldn't do KDWB's Christmas Wish without your donations. Click here to make a tax-deductible donation. Special thanks to Venture Bank. Plus, part of the donations will automatically go to YouthLink to help homeless youth in the Twin Cities.
LISTEN: Dave Ryan calls to surprise the Semonick Family with a KDWB Christmas Wish