MICHELE IS MY BABY SISTER AND SHE IS AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN. SHE WAS BORN WITH CF AND AFTER BEING SICK ALL HER LIFE SHE HAD A DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT IN 2007. SHE IS NOW IN REJECTION AND NEEDS ANOTHER TRANSPLANT TO LIVE. SHE NEVER COMPLAINS AND CARES ABOUT OTHERS. SHE IS THE FOUNDER OF GOTMASK.ORG WHICH HELPS OTHER TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS WITH FUNDS IF NEEDED. HER ORGANIZATION HAS RECENTLY DONATED 7 LAPTOPS TO THE TRANSPLANT FLOOR AT ST. JOE'S HOSPITAL SO THAT TRANSPLANT PATIENTS CAN STAY IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SHE HAS STOPPED PEOPLE IN STORES THAT HAD OXYGEN JUST TO INFORM THEM OF THE TRANSPLANT PROGRAM AND A FEW OF THEM HAVE NOW RECEIVED THEIR NEW LUNGS. SHE ALWAYS WANTS TO HELP OTHERS EVEN THOUGH SHE NEEDS HELP HERSELF. SHE CAN NO LONGER DRIVE HER CAR AS SHE IS TOO WEAK AND HER LUNGS ARE WORKING ON ONLY 14 %. SHE GOES TO PHYSICAL THERAPY 2 TIMES A WEEK AS TO TRY TO STAY STRONG TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT THIS. EVEN WHEN SHE HAS A VERY BAD DAY SHE LETS ME DRAG HER THERE TO TRY AND DO THE BEST SHE CAN. WE JUST GOT BACK FROM LOS ANGELES A FEW DAYS AGO WHERE THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP HER. IF NOT SHE SAYS SHE HAD A GREAT 1 1/2 YEARS WITH HER NEW LUNGS THAT SHE OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD. SHE WORKED FOR THE MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE SHE GOT TOO SICK TO WORK. THAT WAS HER DREAM JOB WORKING IN FORENSICS. SHE WAS VERY SAD WHEN SHE HAD TO RETIRE BECAUSE OF THIS ILLNESS THAT IS TRYING TO TAKE HER LIFE. MOST PEOPLE WOULD STAY IN BED ALL DAY AND WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP IF THEY WERE AS SICK AS SHE IS BUT NOT MY SISTER. SHE IS A FIGHTER WITH A HEART AS BIG AS THE UNIVERSE. YOU WOULD SEE FOR YOURSELF IF YOU WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO MEET HER. SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND- MY SISTER.

Signed,
LIZ BENNETT