Stella Michel and 12 Months 12 Miracles Corner Brook

     The first few months after Alyssa was killed was nothing but a blur, honestly life is still a blur. I had been struggling with ideas of how to keep Alyssa's love for helping people and giving back alive. We had done our first Coldest Night of the Year Walk as the Sunshine Team and had just finished The Swim for Hope with Alyssa's swim family. Her alumni teammates had come together to form the Sunshine Squad and raise funds for Cancer and for Alyssa's Sunshine award..but what could I do to keep it going?

   I was sitting on the couch as my inlaws were faithfully watching the news(something I had stopped doing_) and waiting for the twins bedtime. Something on the news caught my attention .. words like give back, help others etc..I lifted my ass up and started to listen.  Her name was Stella Michel  (from Corner Brook). She had started a  group named 12 Months 12 Miracles. I liked the idea, and wondered could I take her idea, twist it a little and rework it to honour Alyssa. ( that story will come later) .

     Over the past 3 years  I have chatted with Stella, listening to her excitement over her group and her ideas. Ive heard her on the radio, tv, seen awards she has won ( congrats) and knew I had to include her in this blog for without her my Sunshine Squad wouldn't  have had the spark to its beginning.

This is Stella's Story....

" I started 12 Months 12 Miracles in January 2016 as my New Year's Resolution. When I was 3-4 years old, I was sexually abused and my mother hid it. In my 30s, while living across the country, I started having flashbacks and the truth finally came out. I lost my father to cancer when I was 12 years old. When I turned 14 years old, my mother gave me my first black eye. After that, I learned to fight back. We would fistfight sometimes twice or three times a week. Getting kicked out of the house was a normal occurrence. I moved across the province at 17 to live with my aunt and uncle. I went on to marry an abusive man. We separated after 4 years. My point is, no matter how bad you think you have it, the power to turn that around is within you. 12 Months 12 Miracles is a shining light from my dark hole. I started it to show others that it is possible to get out of that dark hole and shine a light in this world because we never know what someone else is going thru. Some of the things we have done include: Delivering Chemo Care Bags to cancer patients; Raising money to send a family to CNIB Summer Family Camp; Mummering; Adopting families for Christmas; Contributing to the Food Bank; Supporting the Corner Brook Fire Department's Annual Toy Drive. Just to name a few. "

Here is just a little peek in what she and her group have accomplished.

Congratulations to Stella for  being recognised for her Giving to others efforts..

2016 NLC Presidents Choice award

2018 YMCA Peace Medallion

Corner Brook Ace Award 2018

Stella also helped out Alyssa's Attic by hosting Alyssa's Attic West in Corner Brook , to help girls get a free dress to go to prom.. Thank you Stella!

Check out her group ..  https://www.facebook.com/groups/12Months12Miracles/

or check out ..

http://www.downhomelife.com/mobile/article.php?id=1697

https://www.thewesternstar.com/living/stella-michel-recognized-by-nlc-for-12-months-12-miracles-142009/

https://www.thewesternstar.com/living/corner-brook-woman-who-gives-to-others-recipient-of-this-years-ymca-peace-medallion-261288/