Help Michelle's Journey : From Near Death to Debt

Dear Friends, RHS Alumni, Friends of Friends and beyond,

Our dear friend Michelle Barker-Finn needs our help and support.  For those that know Michelle, we can all agree that she is the kindest of souls, a brilliant artist, a selfless giver that spent years caring for the under privileged and a true friend.   Please read Michelle's incredible story of survival and open your hearts to Michelle to get her through this difficult financial time.


From Michelle:
On February 13th, 2018 I was headed home from painting a mural...a deer jumped out in front of me and I veered, lost control of the truck and went off of the road.  I flipped twice and hit a couple of trees. Pinned in my car and unable to move, I was left severely injured and struggling to remain conscious and not pass out. 
After an hour of trying to reach my phone and praying, my husband miraculously found me after searching for me when I didn't return home.  He called 911 and luckily if Jim hadn't found me, the Doctors told me I would have died within 20 minutes from all the blood loss. 

I was flown to university of Maryland shock trauma.  My left foot was 75% severed with a broken heel, ankle, tibia and fibula. My right ankle and heel were also broken.  My outlook on recovery was very bleek.  Since the accident I've had 5 surgeries for bone reconstruction,  bone infections, skin grafting, partial ankle fusion and total ankle fusion.  I will soon face more surgeries but I believe I will recover enough to function somewhat normally again.  


Friends, 
By some miracle Michelle survived that day and has had the most difficult of recoveries which has left her unable to work, and had to withdraw from completing her Masters degree which she was one semester away from finishing.  Unfortunately as well, Michelle's marriage did not survive post accident and left  her no alimony.  This has left Michelle severely injured, recovering very slowly through extensive PT and fighting this fight all on her own.  Michelle survived a traumatic experience that most of us couldn't even imagine and is now burdened with the overwhelming stress from this financial and physical devastation.

We are a compassionate community of friends, alumni and family that know and love Michelle.  Michelle would never ask anyone for anything.  Sadly, Michelle had to sell off all her pottery equipment to pay for her bills and day to day expense.   Michelle's passion and talent for her art has been her outlet through this painful chapter.  She needs our help.  That is why I felt so compelled to support and set up this cause for her.  After talking with Michelle about this, she hesitantly and  humbly accepted this gift of support because the reality is that she does need help from others right now to get through the next difficult stage of her life.  

"In the grand scheme of things, I'm grateful that I have a foot and that I can walk most days...and that I have awesome friends and family
I don't really know what else to write except that I want to be able to finish my degree and still do my art." ~Michelle Barker-Finn

That pretty much says it all ^^^^

Be a supporter of Michelle and get her to our goal.  Let's do this for someone that truly needs our support.  Let's get her art equipment back and pay some of her bills and enable her to finish her masters.  But more importantly give Michelle the gift of love and support to lift her through this difficult time.  The RHS family and our network of friends and family will get her there.  

Please donate today whether it's $500, $100, $50 or $20.  Let's do this for Michelle.  Some of her amazing art below.