It was two years ago when I first heard the name Melissa Smith.
Her sister Stephanie had written us numerous times. She was relentless I recall. She’d even gotten my personal email. I liked her immediately. She’s the kind of sister you dream of having. Stephanie outlined her sister’s physical decline. It was difficult to read.
Stephanie told us that Melissa had beaten cancer twice only to have contracted a rare neurological disorder called Transverse Myelitis that had paralyzed her from the chest down. Melissa was out of money, sick, depressed, and currently living in a tiny 3rd story apartment, a prisoner of her own home. With no elevators, Melissa relied on friends to carry her down the stairs to her mother’s car so she could go to the doctor. It was March of 2013.
Melissa told me she used to sit at the window in her apartment and watch the sun go down, because there was nothing else to do. The real world outside grew dim behind the frosted glass of her 3rd story prison.
I had an idea.
I ran downstairs to see if Chelsea, Angie and Brian at Chive Charities had any big Wednesday plans? They didn’t (Chelsea definitely did but she lied to make me feel better). We’re going to Annapolis. We needed $50,000, at the time our biggest donation yet. Cool? Brian and Angie just smiled. They’d already gotten all the approvals. They were just waiting for me to realize all this for myself so I’d think it’s my idea. Fuckers. Ok let’s go.
Google
Facebook
