Edgecombe family fund

In the early morning hours of Tuesday May 3rd Miami Police Officer Ryan Michel noticed a woman with a young child and two other teenage boys at a bus stop on Biscyane Blvd. in the North district of Miami. Officer Michel first thought they were waiting for the bus but noticed them again some time later sleeping on the same bench after several buses had driven by them. He decided to approach them to make sure they were okay. While conversing with them he discovered that this was a family that was in desperate need of assistance. The Woman's name is Ebony Edgecombe and she has 3 boys, the oldest son Kobe, the middle son Adrian and the youngest Joshua (two years old). The family is from Nassau, Bahamas and recently arrived to the U.S. so that the youngest son could have a much needed surgery. The young boy has been diagnosed with a type of genital birth defect known as hypospadias. He is scheduled to have the surgery at Nicklaus Childrens hospital on May16th.

Ms. Edgecombe and her two oldest sons worked very hard to save up money to come to the U.S. to have the surgery for Joshua. The money was supposed to last them until after the recovery, but due to a series of unfortunate events the money was lost and they were kicked out of their motel with no where else to go and no money for food. With no shelter or bed space available Miami Police Officer Ryan Michel gave the family all of the money he had in his wallet. This was enough for a couple more nights at the motel and meals for the family for a couple of days. This would have held the family over until they recieved some money from family back home via Western Union. Two days passed and the Western Union money transfer never came. Luckily for the family Officer Michel did a follow up on his day off. For the better part of his day off Officer Michel tried tirelessly to find the family shelter, to no avail. Officer Michel reached into his pocket yet again and paid for two more days worth of motel stays and meals. Officer Michel's supervisor told him that he was so very proud and impressed by his actions and Officer Michel replied " I know what it's like not to have anything at all, not even peace of mind." and "this is no way for a mother and her family to spend Mothers day".

The family is staying at a local Motel on Biscayne Blvd. until Saturday May 7th (The day before Mother's Day). They will be asked to leave at 11am. We have started this page in the hopes that the Edgecombe family can get the help that they so desperately need.