Michael's Mother (Donna)

We were very happy, very happy for them. As the business soared, so did their spending.

We were very happy, very happy for them. As the business soared, so did their spending.

It was absolutely crushing.

It was absolutely crushing.

Natalie would send me text messages and say, your money will be arriving in your bank account within 24 hours. Or 48 hours. And when that time came around, nothing was ever there. No, ma'am. Nothing was there.

Natalie would send me text messages and say, your money will be arriving in your bank account within 24 hours. Or 48 hours. And when that time came around, nothing was ever there. No, ma'am. Nothing was there.

We just hugged each other and cried because it was just so awful. It was really hard. It's still really hard, except what she's done.

We just hugged each other and cried because it was just so awful. It was really hard. It's still really hard, except what she's done.

We were there as Michael's voice, as his advocate. We needed to be there every day. What was it like seeing Natalie in court?

We were there as Michael's voice, as his advocate. We needed to be there every day. What was it like seeing Natalie in court?

And I just remember screaming on text message, you know, what happened? What happened? The answers would come in time.

And I just remember screaming on text message, you know, what happened? What happened? The answers would come in time.

We ask that you please, please, no mercy. She never gave Michael any mercy.

We ask that you please, please, no mercy. She never gave Michael any mercy.

Well, hopefully one day, you know, maybe they'll come and want to talk to us. Maybe they want to come and ask us some questions about their dad.

Well, hopefully one day, you know, maybe they'll come and want to talk to us. Maybe they want to come and ask us some questions about their dad.

He was just a tremendous young man. He had the biggest heart and the biggest smile. And he was so handsome. He had a lot of friends out there. And so, you know, we just love to keep his story alive and keep it out there and keep his memory alive. With your faith, you know you'll be together again someday. Yes, we will. Yes. Looking forward to that day.

He was just a tremendous young man. He had the biggest heart and the biggest smile. And he was so handsome. He had a lot of friends out there. And so, you know, we just love to keep his story alive and keep it out there and keep his memory alive. With your faith, you know you'll be together again someday. Yes, we will. Yes. Looking forward to that day.

I told Michael as we were leaving the store, I said, she's flirting with you, Michael. He said, oh, no, she's not, Mom. I said, yes, she is, Michael. So Michael keeps finding a reason to go back to Dick's? Yes. And they started dating. You know, I found out later that they had started dating. What did you think of the relationship? Well, I mean, she was a nice girl, you know, a pretty girl.

I told Michael as we were leaving the store, I said, she's flirting with you, Michael. He said, oh, no, she's not, Mom. I said, yes, she is, Michael. So Michael keeps finding a reason to go back to Dick's? Yes. And they started dating. You know, I found out later that they had started dating. What did you think of the relationship? Well, I mean, she was a nice girl, you know, a pretty girl.

And, you know, the only thing we didn't like about it was they started dating so young because, you know, he was getting ready to go to college. They did end up going to college together. Yes, ma'am. Natalie was supposed to went to Concord College, but she changed schooling and went to WVU. They were so in love that Natalie followed Michael to West Virginia University?

And, you know, the only thing we didn't like about it was they started dating so young because, you know, he was getting ready to go to college. They did end up going to college together. Yes, ma'am. Natalie was supposed to went to Concord College, but she changed schooling and went to WVU. They were so in love that Natalie followed Michael to West Virginia University?

The young male nurse came in, and he started to check the reaction and the alertness of an unconscious patient. And he took his fist and rubbed it into Michael's chest. It's called a sternal rub. And Michael raised up in the bed and opened up his eyes. Really? Yes.

The young male nurse came in, and he started to check the reaction and the alertness of an unconscious patient. And he took his fist and rubbed it into Michael's chest. It's called a sternal rub. And Michael raised up in the bed and opened up his eyes. Really? Yes.

Of course, I kissed him and told him that I loved him. It's heartbreaking. Yes. And then he was gone.

Of course, I kissed him and told him that I loved him. It's heartbreaking. Yes. And then he was gone.

He was too young. We're supposed to go before he goes. It's really hard to bury a child.

He was too young. We're supposed to go before he goes. It's really hard to bury a child.

Yes. We would go down and take food down to her and to the kids. And she would say, oh, I'm upstairs. I'm too sick to come down. They sympathized as she described her ongoing cancer battle.

Yes. We would go down and take food down to her and to the kids. And she would say, oh, I'm upstairs. I'm too sick to come down. They sympathized as she described her ongoing cancer battle.

She said that she would have a triple chemotherapy treatment and a triple radiation treatment all at the same time, at the same day.

She said that she would have a triple chemotherapy treatment and a triple radiation treatment all at the same time, at the same day.

You help each other, right? Yes, the community reached around them and stuff and tried to give them as much compassion that they could give. We all tried to help her as much as we could.

You help each other, right? Yes, the community reached around them and stuff and tried to give them as much compassion that they could give. We all tried to help her as much as we could.