A Helping Hand for Michael
Donation protected
Primary Goal: $100,000 GoFundMe goal will renovate the existing garage into an ADA accessible apartment for Michael.
Second Goal: $150,000 Therapy pool and lift can be built for Michael to start daily physical therapy at home. This is no longer covered under his insurance so it's necessary to do at home.
Second Goal: $150,000 Therapy pool and lift can be built for Michael to start daily physical therapy at home. This is no longer covered under his insurance so it's necessary to do at home.
May I introduce to you my son, Michael Sexton. Michael is an amazing young man with a remarkable depth of character and infectious love for life despite the numerous challenges and obstacles he encountered as a child and continues to face on a daily basis today. Michael’s spirit is unparalleled to any of which I have ever met in my lifetime. He is an amazing inspiration to whomever his life touches because of his refusal to be defeated by his disease and his passionate pursuit of his dream of attending USC School of Cinematic Arts and someday becoming a screenwriter and director.
Even when Michael was in high school, he maintained a 3.89 GPA and received the presidential award for academic excellence. He accomplished all of this while battling the progression of his disease. Michael’s determination and positive attitude and outlook many times gives others the encouragement to overcome the difficulties they may be experiencing in their own lives as well. This is important to Michael because of not only his loving and caring heart, but also his desire to serve those in need. Michael is actively involved with the homeless and the mentally ill. Michael tries to improve their quality of life through organizing and participating in holiday activities, sponsoring summertime pizza and snow cone days, counseling, donations, or just listening when someone needs a friendly ear.
Michael had a difficult childhood. He was the brunt of much teasing and torment throughout his school years. He had an unusual gait and was unable to keep up with the other kids physically. His weakness increased and he began walking on his toes, falling on numerous occasions at school, and became unable to climb stairs. At the age of nine, through a muscle biopsy, Michael was diagnosed with Sarcoid Myopathy. His disease presented much like muscular dystrophy and progressively declined no matter what regiment of medications his specialists prescribed. His disease progressed until at the age of 16, when he became unable to walk any longer. When Michael was 18 years old, he had a seizure and was hospitalized. While hospitalized because of his declined lung function, he received a tracheotomy and ever since then has required 24-hour ventilator life support to breathe. While still in the hospital recovering from the tracheotomy, Michael had a massive stroke.
I am forever grateful to have my son because we almost lost him that day. There were a lot of prayers that day and the days that followed. The stroke however did render him completely dependent for all his care and needs. From then on, he was limited to only movement of his fingers, toes, and neck. His new diagnosis included Neuro-Sarcoidosis with multi-organ involvement, as well as, Sarcoid Myopathy, severe Scoliosis, Osteoporosis, and being wheel chair and 24-hour ventilator dependent.
Since coming home from the hospital in December of 2008, Michael’s hospital bed and medical equipment have remained in the living room where we are able to accommodate his needs. Because of the layout of our home, Michael is pretty much confined to the living-dining room area to sleep, bathe, use the portable commode, and conduct any other daily living activities. This arrangement has impacted our family tremendously since Michael’s needs dictate our ability to use the common area of our home. Many times we are now all in our separate rooms.
Our family’s love for one another has endured despite our circumstances. Not to say it has not been difficult, because it has. If there is anything that anyone can do to help us improve Michael’s quality of life, whatever that may be, as a mother, I would be eternally grateful. The beauty of my son is that in his heart of hearts, he would accept your help, not for himself, but for us. With all that he is currently facing in his life, he is more concerned about helping those he loves. My hope is that others could catch a glimpse of what an extraordinary son I have. He is truly a miracle!
Michael has been through so much throughout his life and continues to passionately pursue his dreams no matter what medical challenges block him. He is currently attending junior college with the goal of transferring next year. He needs help that we are unable to provide for him so we are humbly asking for your assistance. He is so deserving to have the necessities in life that so many of us take for granted, such as: a bathroom, a shower, a bedroom, ability to gain entrance to the kitchen, or others in the house. He is and has been confined to the living room since he came home from the hospital in 2008.
God bless you and thank you for sharing Michael’s story with us. Warmest Regards, Michael and Family
Even when Michael was in high school, he maintained a 3.89 GPA and received the presidential award for academic excellence. He accomplished all of this while battling the progression of his disease. Michael’s determination and positive attitude and outlook many times gives others the encouragement to overcome the difficulties they may be experiencing in their own lives as well. This is important to Michael because of not only his loving and caring heart, but also his desire to serve those in need. Michael is actively involved with the homeless and the mentally ill. Michael tries to improve their quality of life through organizing and participating in holiday activities, sponsoring summertime pizza and snow cone days, counseling, donations, or just listening when someone needs a friendly ear.
Michael had a difficult childhood. He was the brunt of much teasing and torment throughout his school years. He had an unusual gait and was unable to keep up with the other kids physically. His weakness increased and he began walking on his toes, falling on numerous occasions at school, and became unable to climb stairs. At the age of nine, through a muscle biopsy, Michael was diagnosed with Sarcoid Myopathy. His disease presented much like muscular dystrophy and progressively declined no matter what regiment of medications his specialists prescribed. His disease progressed until at the age of 16, when he became unable to walk any longer. When Michael was 18 years old, he had a seizure and was hospitalized. While hospitalized because of his declined lung function, he received a tracheotomy and ever since then has required 24-hour ventilator life support to breathe. While still in the hospital recovering from the tracheotomy, Michael had a massive stroke.
I am forever grateful to have my son because we almost lost him that day. There were a lot of prayers that day and the days that followed. The stroke however did render him completely dependent for all his care and needs. From then on, he was limited to only movement of his fingers, toes, and neck. His new diagnosis included Neuro-Sarcoidosis with multi-organ involvement, as well as, Sarcoid Myopathy, severe Scoliosis, Osteoporosis, and being wheel chair and 24-hour ventilator dependent.
Since coming home from the hospital in December of 2008, Michael’s hospital bed and medical equipment have remained in the living room where we are able to accommodate his needs. Because of the layout of our home, Michael is pretty much confined to the living-dining room area to sleep, bathe, use the portable commode, and conduct any other daily living activities. This arrangement has impacted our family tremendously since Michael’s needs dictate our ability to use the common area of our home. Many times we are now all in our separate rooms.
Our family’s love for one another has endured despite our circumstances. Not to say it has not been difficult, because it has. If there is anything that anyone can do to help us improve Michael’s quality of life, whatever that may be, as a mother, I would be eternally grateful. The beauty of my son is that in his heart of hearts, he would accept your help, not for himself, but for us. With all that he is currently facing in his life, he is more concerned about helping those he loves. My hope is that others could catch a glimpse of what an extraordinary son I have. He is truly a miracle!
Michael has been through so much throughout his life and continues to passionately pursue his dreams no matter what medical challenges block him. He is currently attending junior college with the goal of transferring next year. He needs help that we are unable to provide for him so we are humbly asking for your assistance. He is so deserving to have the necessities in life that so many of us take for granted, such as: a bathroom, a shower, a bedroom, ability to gain entrance to the kitchen, or others in the house. He is and has been confined to the living room since he came home from the hospital in 2008.
God bless you and thank you for sharing Michael’s story with us. Warmest Regards, Michael and Family
Organizer
Michael Sexton
Organizer
Torrance, CA
