Donation protected
Please consider just a small $10, $20 or $30 donation towards a GOFUNDME account set up for Michael David Hines. Every dollar goes a long way ! Michael has Cerebral Palsy and anyone who knows Michael David Hines knows that he is the ultimate ambassador for disabilities: Charming, Confident, Cheerful and a living example of the importance of inclusion. Michael’s ability to connect with people teaches us all about disabilities with every interaction.
Michael David was born at 25 weeks and has faced enormous odds over the last 13 years. Dave and I have been blessed to know Michael’s parents April and Chris for 25 years, and many can attest to the lasting friendships they have had with the Hines family. April and Chris are amazing parents to their two sons Griffin (17) and Michael (13) who are the light of their life.
April and Chris are such a blessing to so many and they never let their struggles bring them down or ask for assistance but caring for Michael’s basic needs on a daily basis have become more challenging as he has gotten older and even more so after a recent surgery and painful recovery. Along with the painful recovery Michael has had a setback and has been sidelined and unable to connect with the community he loves. The family’s van with 220,000 miles used to transport Michael and his wheelchair is no longer working or repairable. With the holiday season upon us, we want to reach out and ask that we come together to support the Hines Family and raise funds for a truly necessary gift to transport Michael and his specialized wheelchair with a van equipped for his disability.
For those that do not know Michael’s story, he was born prematurely at twenty-five weeks in 2003. I remember getting the call and Dave and I rushed to Orland after his birth. He was so very tiny. He spent his first 126 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in an incubator. Michael had his first surgery when he was three days old with many more to follow. He was hooked-up to numerous machines and IV’s all over his little body, including his head. When he was released from the hospital after a year, he went home with a g-tube (feeding tube that leads directly into his stomach), on oxygen and many different medications.
During Michael’s first two years, his health was very fragile and he was in and out of the hospital at least five different times staying for months. After two years his health began to stabilize but the struggles continued trying to maneuver his needs and caretaking.
When Michael was preschool age he was fitted for his first wheelchair and was fortunate to be able to attend a new inclusive charter school, (UCP) United Cerebral Palsy of Orlando. He thrived in an environment where the mix of students with special needs and those without was 50/50. The wonderful people of UCP provided physical, speech and occupational therapies for Michael and helped the family understand the special needs Michael would require for the rest of his life.
Michael has far exceeded educational goals and many more! April and Chris were told by the doctors that Michael would probably never speak or eat. Amazingly Michael is now constructing sentences and loves communicating and Skyping on his IPad, especially with his Grandpa! And he loves his cheeseburgers!
Not only do the expenses add up for the daily care of Michael, his medical needs, hospital bills, several wheelchairs and accessories have been enormous and the family has never asked for help or qualified for government assistance. Thanks to a family member, his first motorized wheelchair was purchased, costing in excess of 40K. Many people, including some teachers and therapists, doubted he could master his chair. But Michael has once again proven his doubters were wrong and has become quite proficient. Michael’s wheelchair is the one item that allows him the freedom to do what he wants. When he is in his chair, his mobility is the one part of his life he is not dependent to anyone else.
Two years ago, Michael’s family moved to the small town of Crystal River, Florida. Although there was not a special UCP school, Citrus County has worked with the family and Michael attends a “typical” middle school. This has been an educational experience for teachers and students alike. Everyone at the school has been so supportive of Michael and he was even one of the team captains for a football game. The local YMCA has also been amazing supportive.
Michael’s joy of interacting with others and attending school and activities outside the home allows him to thrive. The GOFUNDME will help in assisting with the purchase of a specialized handicap van and accessories.
We would greatly appreciate if everyone would share Michael’s story and consider just a small donation.
Over the last 13 years the amount of generosity and love shown has humbled the Hines family for which they are very grateful. Let’s help Michael David get rolling again!
Thank you in advance for your donations.
Blessings to all,
Michelle & Dave Beshears
Michael David was born at 25 weeks and has faced enormous odds over the last 13 years. Dave and I have been blessed to know Michael’s parents April and Chris for 25 years, and many can attest to the lasting friendships they have had with the Hines family. April and Chris are amazing parents to their two sons Griffin (17) and Michael (13) who are the light of their life.
April and Chris are such a blessing to so many and they never let their struggles bring them down or ask for assistance but caring for Michael’s basic needs on a daily basis have become more challenging as he has gotten older and even more so after a recent surgery and painful recovery. Along with the painful recovery Michael has had a setback and has been sidelined and unable to connect with the community he loves. The family’s van with 220,000 miles used to transport Michael and his wheelchair is no longer working or repairable. With the holiday season upon us, we want to reach out and ask that we come together to support the Hines Family and raise funds for a truly necessary gift to transport Michael and his specialized wheelchair with a van equipped for his disability.
For those that do not know Michael’s story, he was born prematurely at twenty-five weeks in 2003. I remember getting the call and Dave and I rushed to Orland after his birth. He was so very tiny. He spent his first 126 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in an incubator. Michael had his first surgery when he was three days old with many more to follow. He was hooked-up to numerous machines and IV’s all over his little body, including his head. When he was released from the hospital after a year, he went home with a g-tube (feeding tube that leads directly into his stomach), on oxygen and many different medications.
During Michael’s first two years, his health was very fragile and he was in and out of the hospital at least five different times staying for months. After two years his health began to stabilize but the struggles continued trying to maneuver his needs and caretaking.
When Michael was preschool age he was fitted for his first wheelchair and was fortunate to be able to attend a new inclusive charter school, (UCP) United Cerebral Palsy of Orlando. He thrived in an environment where the mix of students with special needs and those without was 50/50. The wonderful people of UCP provided physical, speech and occupational therapies for Michael and helped the family understand the special needs Michael would require for the rest of his life.
Michael has far exceeded educational goals and many more! April and Chris were told by the doctors that Michael would probably never speak or eat. Amazingly Michael is now constructing sentences and loves communicating and Skyping on his IPad, especially with his Grandpa! And he loves his cheeseburgers!
Not only do the expenses add up for the daily care of Michael, his medical needs, hospital bills, several wheelchairs and accessories have been enormous and the family has never asked for help or qualified for government assistance. Thanks to a family member, his first motorized wheelchair was purchased, costing in excess of 40K. Many people, including some teachers and therapists, doubted he could master his chair. But Michael has once again proven his doubters were wrong and has become quite proficient. Michael’s wheelchair is the one item that allows him the freedom to do what he wants. When he is in his chair, his mobility is the one part of his life he is not dependent to anyone else.
Two years ago, Michael’s family moved to the small town of Crystal River, Florida. Although there was not a special UCP school, Citrus County has worked with the family and Michael attends a “typical” middle school. This has been an educational experience for teachers and students alike. Everyone at the school has been so supportive of Michael and he was even one of the team captains for a football game. The local YMCA has also been amazing supportive.
Michael’s joy of interacting with others and attending school and activities outside the home allows him to thrive. The GOFUNDME will help in assisting with the purchase of a specialized handicap van and accessories.
We would greatly appreciate if everyone would share Michael’s story and consider just a small donation.
Over the last 13 years the amount of generosity and love shown has humbled the Hines family for which they are very grateful. Let’s help Michael David get rolling again!
Thank you in advance for your donations.
Blessings to all,
Michelle & Dave Beshears
Organizer and beneficiary
Michelle & Dave Beshears
Organizer
Tampa, FL
Christopher Hines
Beneficiary