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1.5.2024
Dear Friends,
It’s Michelle and I am so very grateful to be writing our first newsletter of 2024. The reality is, I have been incredibly sick for several years, and I didn’t expect to even be here. I was close to signing up for hospice in May, because I could no longer live with the constant and extreme pain. An amazing nurse named Enisa tearfully begged me not to and implored me to hold on just a little bit longer. I did, and in November, I would finally meet the surgeon who would save my life. My spinal cord was being severely crushed, and this had been misdiagnosed over and over again. After the surgery, the daily throbbing pain subsided. My arms and legs, which have been partially paralyzed for two years, could move again. I can sleep, I can swallow without choking and my vision and equilibrium have been restored. My tightly crippled hands are loosening, and my body has softened and warmed, because it is no longer being strangled by my spinal cord. It feels like a miracle to me, and while I have a long road ahead of me to regain my muscles and get back as much strength as I am able, I am determined to work hard to reverse as much of the damage as possible. I struggle with not having too many expectations, while continuing to believe that I am always just a day away from where I want to be.
While my daughter Samara is now officially CEO of Direct Effect Charities, I will continue working as I am able, and she will work with me as we continue our daily operations. I’m so grateful she has chosen to embrace this role. We look forward to continuing our regular programs and adding some new ones. There is no shortage of need in this world, and we are here to serve.
We appreciate your continued support of our work. Because of each and every one of you, we were able to answer the personal Christmas wishes of 6000 children in Chicago. It takes a village and thousands of hands and it is wonderful to watch it all unfold. I’ve included a few videos from Southside Occupational Academy, which truly show the joy this program creates. We were so excited to visit them and watch the magic unfold!
Please also watch our Facebook in the new year as more holiday festivities will be coming in and just maybe, you will see the life that you touched. It’s a beautiful thing.
We’ve never been fond of fundraising and donations were down at Christmas. It is hard to ask for money when we see all the beautiful work you are doing for our kids, but the fact remains, we still need funding to operate. Please consider supporting our charity auctions on eBay, where we hope to offer a wide variety of collectibles and experiences. We recently received a generous donation of sports memorabilia and have launched the auctions here. We currently have a beautiful autographed poster of Mickey Mantle, as well as a signed jersey of Ken Griffey Junior. We even have a signed lithograph of Joe DiMaggio, which will be going up soon! Also, we have a great collection of vintage and antique jewelry that you should watch for. I can promise you incredibly unique pieces that you won’t find elsewhere. Do something fun for yourself and support our good work all at the same time! Please also consider donating collectibles for auctions. It’s a wonderful way to honor those of the past, while helping those of the future. Please contact me if you have something you would like to donate and we can arrange to pick it up.
As always, you can make a donation using Zelle and our phone number, 312-296-5311. We would be grateful for any amount at all to ensure that our work can continue throughout the new year.
Thank you for helping to make the world a better place. We look forward to the new year and beyond because Santa’s work is never really done. He may have returned to the North Pole, but he’s working hard every day to change lives.
With love and gratitude,
Michelle DiGiacomo
Founder
Direct Effect Charities
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