The voice for my make up collection Win Kelly Charlesedited by Lisa Van SlykeChapter 1The Adobe Foundation ith the Sparklin! Chocolate ChipsAfter many months of "T#s ne house construction$ e anticipated the arrival of him movin! into his on house soon% &n the meantime$ Cynthia and & ere plannin! for our companyrollout$ a company focusin! on an all'natural makeup line% She and "T sat backsta!e to support me as & as !ettin! ready for the shos for (iami)s Fashion Week% *ays ere filled ith all the stress of completely movin! "T into his home and movin! *iane into her home$ because she)s at a point no here she is in need of minimal nursin! care% This is a step don from the intense rehab that the family decided to place *iane in since "T#s accident and since she had the stroke% +ur ne,t bi! challen!e as findin! ei!ht round'the'clock care providers to fill the house ith love for "T% -es$ Cynthia and & ere superoman$ all .ust for the benefit of the person ho e love and ho had his challen!es in life% /efore the company the rollout of the ne makeup line$ e needed to !et *iane stable and in the appropriate care% We eren#t orried about "T so much because of 0abitat for 0umanity of !reater Los An!eles1(iami% Kelly as$ of course$ plannin! to fly back out there to see his ne home and to help Cynthia in the plannin! sta!es of the company$ as ell as ith *iane and "T% Findin! *iane care as about to be a ild !oose chase$ not to mention helpin! "T !et ad.usted to his ne !rand mansion of a house from his tiny un ' handicapped accessible house% When & pulled up to the house$ & as shocked to find an ei!ht thousand s2uare'foot house ' Adobe and hite stone ith the ramps connectin! each level of the 3 story deck$ includin! one level that as a salt'ater infinity pool$ ith the deck lookin! over the ocean% The construction orkers needed a lot more time before e could have the ribbon cuttin! ceremony$ so this ama4in! mansion asn#t ours yet to keep$ thou!h the outside of the house as completely done 5they still needed to some ma.or ork6%7oe hopped out of the car hen e arrived% She as "T)s e,tra special surprise% & did not tell "T & as brin!in! 7oe back out to the debut of the house% 7oe had a better !ate then hen eleft California% 7oe be!an doin! an online version of Clara)s meditation pro!ram and she also 2started a hyperbaric treatment in (iami% She moved to (iami for to months as she could not live in Aspen hile her parents decided hat to do ith her house% 8ven thou!h the house as under her name$ because she as disabled ith C9$ even thou!h she had the money$ her hole house as bein! tossed about because of her parent)s divorce% 7oe as stuck decidin! hat she anted to do : move to (iami ith me and sell the house in Aspen$ or keep the house in Aspen and !et a small place in (iami to help me and my company become financially stable%&n the midst of all this$ e are also tryin! to find assisted livin! for *iane$ "T)s mom% "T as still livin! in the apartment for to more eeks as construction orkers put the finishin! touches on the house% "T had said to me that he anted to !et out of the house and start a ne foundation on his on life% 0e didn)t think his mom has the capabilities to help care for him because of the condition she)s in : completely heelchair bound% We tried to assist my mom as best e could ith the help of Cynthia% "T su!!ested that hen e ere back in (iami or!ani4in! the office for our ne makeup company that e should move it to +rlando1Californiaso e could !et *iane back into physical therapy% *iane didn)t ant to !o$ and "T had been tryin! to encoura!e her to learn ho to alk a!ain to be able to help so as to not stress me out% & ould potentially e,pandin! my company to help "T !et back into his ;old fashioned< state of mind by !ivin! him a part'time .ob to take the ;dis< out of his disability% Some of the bri!htest minds & kno of are disabled$ i%e% Stephen 0akin! or the real life Superman$ Christopher =eeves$ ho also played Superman in several movies$ and then let)s not for!et =obin Williams% >eedless to say$ "T ould alays put Superman movies on in the studio or be listenin! to the mind of Steve "obs$ ho invented Apple Siri dictation$ throu!h his headphones% & think "T anted to take life lessons from either Superman or Christophe =eeves$ despite his disability% 0e told me he looked up to him as his ;disabled superhero< 5althou!h he acted more like =obin Williams ith his sense of humor6%0e told me one early mornin! hen & had spent the ni!ht at the hospital ith "T because *iane needed a break% &t as !ettin! a little too much after spendin! three months in the hospital%>o & needed to learn ho to take care of "T in a totally different capacity and sho his ne !irlfriend at the time$ =achel$ ho to use the !'tube at ni!ht because she ould be spendin! the ni!ht$ alon! ith an aide$ helpin! him% 8ven thou!h he could eat anythin! he anted durin! the day ith assistance$ he ould still have trouble drinkin! and !ettin! his full calorie intake% Well$ that)s hat the latest and bri!htest minds at ?CLA had decided to do ith consultations from 3Crai! 0ospital based out of *enver$ Colorado$ thou!ht anyay% & remember those days like they ere yesterday$ spendin! many hours in the hospital$ onderin! if a brilliant mentor to me in thefashion industry ould ever come out the same and have the same brilliant mind he did before the car accident% /ack then$ it as the to of us .ust startin! out : him havin! ten plus years in the fashion industry before he met me and took a oman ho had dreams of bein! the first fashion desi!ner ith a physical disability$ C9$ ever to be featured in (iami fashion eek%"T spent three months in ?CLA havin! to reork and reire his body and !et his mind back up to the state of functionality ith >aomi$ the head of rehab monitorin! every +T$ a 9hysical Therapist$ and a phenomenal speech team% They all orked hard to make "T functional a!ain$ and the ne,t step up as helpin! him to pro!ress to livin! in a handicapped'accessible house% Consistency as the key no that e !ot "T home and out of that small apartment and outof ton% 8ven thou!h he asn)t in a prominent facility$ he as still and outpatient at ?CLA% Thisdecision as not made of my convincin!$ or 9atty)s or "enny)s of 7oe)s$ either% +kay$ maybe & convinced him .ust a little bit to help us help him so e ouldn)t physically hurt ourselves in theprocess of movin! "T% "T tried to !et *iane on the same mobility plan he as on so he could holdhis on mom$ but she anted nothin! to do ith it% ;+kay$< "T said to his mom one day$ ;& can)thelp you unless you ant to help yourself% So do you ant to help yourself@ Are you ready to receive the !ift of mobility a!ain after you became unable to alk or speak because of your stroke@< ;>o$< *iane shook her head and si!ned the ord ;>o%o that she)s over the bulimiaand at a healthy ei!ht$ & didn)t reali4e it ould help us !et throu!h the issue & !uess all people of all disabilities have% She)s used to that apartment and she can)t understand that the house ill be for her and "T% And yes$ & ant (ontclair to succeed$ so & have taken her under my in!% (aybe & ill present her throu!h my company% 0opefully 7oe ill be okay ith that% (ontclair has trouble speakin! because she made her body that ay$ and & kno her brain probably isn)t orkin! ri!ht because of the lack of calories : she started hen she as a child : and resulted in her havin! to !o to a treatment pro!ram up in (alibu% That)s hy her biolo!ical mom is no lon!er in the picture% 0er biolo!ical mom cannot take care of her$ so her adopted mom$ >ancy$ has helped her since she as si, months old% >o$ &)m lookin! at this house ith "T and ima!inin! him in it$ but no the time has come to actually christen it% & can)t tell you ho many times e stood in the driveay so many times$ lookin! at the house and havin! "T alk in to take a 2uick look% 9ardon me$ but as you can see$ & still think of "T as a phenomenal$ able'bodied fashion desi!ner% & meant$ ;heel in< ith =achel sittin! on his lap because he made her is fiancLe hen the blessin! of this pro.ect started% We had all decided to put the eddin! off until the ne house as finali4ed$ but e did not kno ho e ould pay for it due to all of "T)s medical bills from the past nine months% Still$ it ceases to ama4e me that "T$ in the ne,t couple of eeks$ ill be !ettin! an CDDD s2uare foot house$ complete ith ei!ht bedrooms$ in the style he anted : Adobe style : all made to meet his needs$ complete ith a pool that overlooks the ocean% The pool is specifically desi!ned for his 9T so he can use his le!s to the best of his abilities by alloin! him to still have feelin!s in his le!s% "T loves the ocean$ so the pool is a saltater infinity pool$ and they ould tell him 10about it at the ribbon'cuttin! ceremony% 7oe$ no alkin! better and ho e all kno$ ould have access to the pool$ too%"enny and & met "essica at the bottom of the most !or!eous driveay & have ever seen in my life% &t as a little bit confusin! to find because they had been !iven one piece of land by *iane$ and then bou!ht another piece of land ri!ht ne,t to *iane)s house% Luckily the home oners ho oned the house on that land ere illin! to !ive it up because they had also happened upon the story on the Today Sho$ and they are really into philanthropy% & could not fi!ure out hy they did thatJ maybe one day & ould%;0i$ "essicaA< & said as & hopped out of the car at the bottom of the driveay% ;This is "enny$ my assistant%e -ork$ then sloly mi!rated to Los An!eles$ then up to (alibu ten years later to atch her son !raduate from school% >o that e ere on the same land as "T$ ithin a fe steps aay from each other)s home$ it as !oin! to be a bit easier to for me to take care of this family and have my team$ because Bod knos & need them$ & thou!ht as e alked throu!h this !ift of a home% Chokin! back tears$ >atalie as alkin! behind me ith the camera cre folloin!% &t as because this as not only *iane)s !ift to us$ this as also !iven to us by my biolo!ical mom to !ive me the talent to be a fashionista and bein! able to ork ithin my on company$ and the ability to sharemy talents and aareness about C9%;*o you like it@< "essica and >atalie asked to!ether% ;-eah$ & do$< & replied$ ipin! my eyes ith the Kleene,% ;&t)s so beautifully done and each of the four bedrooms$ includin! the office$ is uni2uely us% & remember hat my biolo!ical mom said to me before & even started my company% She basically said F-ou found your company%-ou had the hereithal to do that and no one can take that aay from you% -ou have a dream inyour heart and you follo that dream%) >atalie responded$ ;That)s hy e applaud you and anted to see you succeed on this incredible .ourney$ alon! ith all of the fans of the Today Sho% So$ on behalf of the Today Sho$ e are donatin! all proceeds not only to the *isabled Athlete)s Foundation$ but also to 0abitat for 0umanity in (iami and Los An!eles so they can help others succeed in their dreams%atalie proposed% ;& ill be there$ too% As a member of the *isabled Athlete)s Foundation$ e could have the head of the *AF there to sho off "T)s handicap accessible boat$ hich has been put in stora!e% & kno e talked about this at the LA 0abitat for 0umanity in the vision1architectural meetin!%;We ould like to have the party in to eeks% &t is no almost the end of April% & as thinkin! the be!innin! of (ay$< said >atalie% ;What@ Are you a so'called planner no@< & lau!hed%;>o$ she said$ but & am a very !ood cook% & have a poerful netork of celebrities and avera!e people that & can !et national e,posure$ and maybe Anne$ ho did the intervie% She)s ina different position since e did the intervie on the Today Sho% & can ask her if she ould do the story$ hich ould be a prerecorded video if that ould help you$ Kelly% & kno there are people in your life that do not like to be on camera and & kno that for a fact you don)t like the idea of havin! national e,posure% -ou ould like the idea of standin! in the corner doin! stuff !racefully ithout anyone noticin! you$ but you can)t% +nce you !et into bein! the first oman ever to compete in the Kona &ronman Triathlon and bein! able to have an e,clusive sho ith "Tas ell as bein! featured in (iami Fashion Week because of your C9$ you ill !et national e,posure%atalie said$ ;you can)t .ust stand in the corner% & kno Kona as emotionally and physical tou!h on you$ but hat you learned from doin! the &ronman and tryin! to complete them$ and then bein! featured in (iami Fashion Week$ too$ is somethin! no one could teach you in the classroom% &t)s called life lessons and .ust because people try to insult your intelli!ence level doesn)t mean you have to run in the other direction% -ou kno in your heart you must teach everyone about disabilities andthat)s hy "T as so fascinated by bein! paired up ith you in (iami for fashion eek% -ou are so open and honest about your disability$ but yet you don)t let it stop you% "ust because you !ot taken don by the ind and the hills of Kona$ and yes$ your teammate did not treat you as an e2ual partner doesn)t mean you let people alk all over you and call you la4y and a 2uitter% "T)s dreams of becomin! the first of his !eneration to !o to colle!e and focus on becomin! a ne$ up'and'comin! "apanese fashion desi!ner$ yet !ettin! a de!ree hile not knoin! the lan!ua!e of the cultureM if he did kno$ you !uys ould have never met% 0e ouldn)t have you out here today helpin! him in the ne,t bi! challen!e of his life% >o$ let)s !et to plannin!%atalie said$ ;because you look as hite as a !host hen & said prerecorded tape% & think e)ve !ot a !ood plan of KD to 1DD people e can put this house to use% ?nfortunately$ *iane can)t be there because of her situation of not antin! to !et out of treatment and not antin! to become independent% & kno that you$ Kelly$ and "T tried to emphasi4e that to her .ust before Cliff call you about or!ani4in! the ribbon cuttin! ceremony% & think that conversation ith her never !ot finished because "T didn)t ant to finish it$ because *iane as so an!ry at him for tryin! to convince her to become an able bodied oman a!ain%atalie% ;And yes$ Anne can do a story% & taped a piece .ust like e did at my office for the ori!inal story of me bein! the 1st oman ith C9 featured in (iami Fashion Week%atalie asked as she pulled me over into the corner% ;&s everythin! okay@ >o &)m concerned about you%o one said bein! a motivational speaker and the first fashion desi!ner in (iami Fashion Week ho is physically disabled as !oin! to be easy% >o$ & can only hand you so many Kleene,es and hold you for so lon! before & have to !o and !et back to >e -ork to start plannin! the recorded video tape% -ou need to !o call about the !ate and you need to !o back to the nursin! home here *iane is sittin! and tell her about the !ift she !ave you% She probably doesn)t even remember ritin! it%atalie and & alked back%;+h$ yes% Kelly .ust needed a little reassurance ithout tears and a little FBoA WomanA BoA) talk from a person ho)s been in the same position she)s been in$< >atalie replied% ;At one point$ to be 2uite honest ith you$ & never thou!ht & as !oin! to be a famous .ournalist and be able to call my .ob inspirational at times% & can even thou!h & have to report serious nes IDO of the time$ & look back on the inspirational stories &)ve reported% That)s hat keeps me !oin!G to report the serious nes$ i%e% the people dyin! of hun!er$ or the people dyin! in ars$ or other 16people .ust tryin! to !et across the (e,ican border to achieve their dreams ithout people to help them like their on families$ and unfortunately some of these people become disabled%< ;They may not have an inspiration like Kelly$< >atalie continued$ ;to look up to ho put her life on hold and ho reestablished her company in California to help a friend in need% & don)t kno many people that ould have moved their lives and their established fashion companies after bein! featured on the cat alks of the (iami Fashion Week to rebuild the foundation of her on life to help a friend in need% This asn)t part of your .ob title$ Kelly$ but hat as your .ob title and ill alays be a fundamental basis of your .ob title is to !ive back to people in need$ as ell as handle C9 ith !race and style% So$ &)ll leave it at that because & have !ot to !o catch a plane to >e -ork to continue atchin! this incredible .ourney unfold in the name of love% See you in to eeks% Actually$ (ay 1Nth to open up a ne be!innin!%< She stepped into a limousine and put her sun!lasses on% +f course$ & ould like it to happen .ust a bit sooner rather than later$ so & could have taken the lead to !reater hei!hts of !ettin! Tom out of my on house that & as no sharin! ith"T% Tom as makin! e,cuses for his behavior of hat he as !oin! to be able to do ith his onfuture editorial pa!e in a ma!a4ine that ould sho off their on ay to describe this ama4in! life of "T%17Chapter 3Thin!s That & 0aveAs e alked back in the house to !o sit don to call about the !ate$ & had tissues in my hand$ but & decided not to use them% ;>atalie as ri!ht in the statement she said as she !ot into the limo% &f & didn)t ant to do the Kona &ronman$ that ould)ve been my choice% /ut & accepted the challen!e of attemptin! the Kona &ronman and acceptin! the challen!e has !iven me !reat !ifts$< & said to "enny and "essica as e sat on hold aitin! to talk about the !ate to Cliff and =obin$ ho oversees all construction pro.ects ith the assistance of "ody% We met her at the LA office hen this pro.ect a!ain 5yes$ they are females in construction6 because the interim president can)t be in 1D$DDD places at once% & needed to place a phone call to Cynthia to discuss the !ate and ho "T as doin! and tell here hen the date as of the actual housearmin! so that she and & could move on ith launchin! a company%;Well$ if it isn)t "essica$< Cliff said as he picked up the phone% & think he kne somethin! as ron!% ;Cliff$ its "essica% We)re at "T Willin!)s house and & anted to ask you a 2uestion% & anted to ask Fred and possibly =obin .ust so she)s in the loop$ too% & ould like everyone to come in and listen to this conversation because he)s helpin! you as the interim C8+$ and also because he)s a contractor and desi!ner of this house%e -ork and Anne is doin! a taped video se!ment because the housearmin! party on)t be filmed% &t ill beabout KD people$ a small$ uni2ue housearmin! party%ot even & love you% 20;& anted her to at least be up and alkin!$< Cynthia said over the speakerphone as "enny and & !ot back in the car% & had to han! up on Cynthia to tell "essica here & as !oin! and that & had a mini emer!ency on my hands% Cynthia really needed someone to listen to her% "essicaas fine ith me leavin! the meetin! early because she had already shon me hat she as !oin! to sho me and everyone as comin! to fi, the !ate% ;0ave you !ot my Louis Vuitton ba!@< & asked as & picked up my crutches and steadied myself a!ainst the all to !et on them as "enny dialed Cynthia% She picked up my ba!% ;What areyou carryin! in your ba!@ A ton of bricks@< she said$ lau!hin!% ;>o$< & said% ;& have half of *iane)s medical supplies in my ba! because & for!ot to hand them to her nurse hen e left today% & as tryin! to help "T out of them before he started screamin! hen e ere packin! up "T)s house% *iane)s mental e2uipment as left in the apartment because "T$ bein! the nice son he is$ as tryin! to have a sleepover for *iane so that "T could talk to his mom in a private ith one of the on'call nurses from ?CLA rehab% +bviously$ that didn)t ork% The sleepover happened (onday ni!ht and the fi!ht happened Wednesday%o$ let)s !et this sho on the road so & can !et back to hat & as doin! hich as or!ani4in! "T)s office% We only have HC hours to !et thisthin! or!ani4ed before the housearmin! party% & didn)t ant to be dealin! ith you and & didn)t ant to be dealin! takin! you to a homeless shelter$ either$ but that)s hy & have decided to support you in your decision% Thankfully$ "enny has already started to place calls to the homelessshelter and e are supposed to be there in one hour to !et you all strai!ht%o put your shoes on please and &)ll meet you at the Le,us in the driveay$< & commanded him% ;&)m only puttin! you in "enny)s car because &)m not puttin! you in a semi'ne =an!e =over and takin! a chance on havin! you stick bubble!um on my seat% Trust me$ & kno hat you have hidin! in the tent% "essica and & alked into that tent hen you ere takin! a dip in the pool and you didn)t even notice% Tom$ no & ill ask you nicely once a!ain$ put your shoes on because the homeless shelter does re2uire a dress code of a top$ pants$ and shoes on% And yes$ you can come out$< & said%;"ust because you don)t like it$ you need to !et help and you need to understand hat youdid to "T and my team and his family members% -ou have one hu!e !uardian an!el lookin! over you$ "T% *on)t orry about tomorro% The past is the past ith Tom$ and no e can focus on the bri!ht future of tomorro% 38Chapter QThe 0ouse 9artyG *ancin! ith the Stars in the World)s SkyAs e !ot in the car$ & said$ ;Tom$ are you ready to do this@o$< & said to them$ ;let)s have a nice$ rela,in! lunch today no that e)ve !ot the house built$ the house moved$ and inconveniences !iven to us by people out of our ay$ so e can have a !ood slate of !ood memories to start the days to come%As in that house6$ but because "T as doin! better no than e ori!inally discussed% Weouldn)t need as many C>As in the house that e ori!inally discussed% We had discussed ei!ht C>As$ and no & think e ould need si, .ust in case someone !ets sick and they need to be backed up% 41;*on)t you think that)s their precautionary measure and don)t you alays have to tell me everythin!$ but you do have to tell me about ma.or health concerns$ "T$< & said as & closed the vandoor% ;Let me kno hen e !et up to the house% Let)s !et this party started%atalie and The Today Sho cre at the house yet% &t as really heartbreakin! that Tom did that to all of us$ includin! "T ay back hen$ because & kno in my heart that as emotional abuse and physical abuse$ too% 0e almost soaked "T and broke his arm because "T almost fell over and Tom couldn)t handle that type of physical labor and here & thou!ht he as a nurse% & 2uickly learned not to .ud!e a book by its cover% & have 2uickly discovered not to take people)s ord for it% (ake them prove it to me and to all of us in a common !round settin!%49Chapter N(ove'in *ay AKA 0ousearmin! 9arty& kno & said that e ould eventually move in to "enny$ but ith the setback ith Tom$ e couldn)t e,actly move in because every to seconds hen e ere at the house$ Tom ould do somethin! une,pected% /ut today as the day of for!ettin! that and makin! thin!s happen forCynthia)s makeup line debut so she could still make money and not be botherin! "T about it because of his life ith his ife% &t is a different version of his life in the fashion industry$ his 2uote un2uote traditional life as a fashion desi!ner thou!h in a ne ay from the vanta!e point of a heelchair% &t)s sort of like a ne perspective on life$ hich !ives him ne$ visionary ideas on life as he once kne it% While usin! the same concept from his on old life and e,clusively usin! the trainin! from /erkeley and the ?niversity of (iami that ould never chan!e$ but his visions on cloth ill and that)s ho e need to see it as an out of the bo, thinker as an advocate for the disabled% & said this to a crod of friends and family into a microphone before e cut the ribbon at the house ith the Today Sho film cre standin! there filmin! me% & as not my best lately% & as tryin! to keep myself composed ithout makin! speech notes a mess of lines from my tears like they did hen & as simply rehearsin! this speech% ;/less technolo!y for makin! dreams come true$< & said% ;Bod bless the staff at ?CLA for helpin! "T !et to this point in his ne life no% & kno *iane$ ho unfortunately on top of her stroke that started out by an undia!nosed brain aneurysm$ didn)t !et to see the final house revie of the housearmin! party for that matter$ but she did !et to see hat the concept ould look like% & kno that she ould be so proud to see this moment of the house revie as e opened up the disabled community and the orld of the able bodied community to sho hat the disabled can really do despite their disabilities% The stren!th and determination it takes to becomin! disabled is acceptin! your disability$ not only for the families ho are no facin! theirloved one bein! confined to a heelchair$ but to kno that they have a beautiful thin! in life to live for today and to love their on life% +r$ in this case$ beautiful and ama4in! .eelry to be !ifted and en.oyed by other people in other countries that makes them feel better about 50themselves as a result of earin! a little bit of "T)s heart and soul% & love hen people come up to help me out$ to make a difference in a life$ and then they seem to have the patience and poer of love and support of a local community that ants to help me turn a ish into somethin! that & could only ima!ine that has turned out better than it looked on paper$< & said as & handed "T and his fiancL for only a couple of more eeks 5or at least "T thou!ht she ould be6 the keys to his ne home% With =achel sittin! on his lap$ "T drove himself in throu!h the front door and into the hallay of his ne house% ;& think that & !ot it$ yeah$< he said$ lau!hin!%;+h$ no$ you don)t$< & said% ;There)s one more hu!e success by a surprise in the backyardthat you don)t even kno about% ;As if e have not been blessed enou!h$< "T said$ ;that is the ne,t ma!ical surprise@atalie said to "T and =achel% ;Let me .ust !rab these to small bo,es% Then & can open up the door%ot only because French is the national native lan!ua!e of Canada here & !re up and learned ho to speak our native lan!ua!e of French as my first lan!ua!e%atalie as e ere standin! there aitin! for "T to !et or!ani4ed one mornin! ith the help of 9atty and"enny% We had to !o into a meetin! about his help to eeks after the eddin! chaos had calmeddon and the people and the cameras left% To eeks after the story aired on The Today Sho$ e !ot blessed enou!h to have an office space ith a meetin! room by an anonymous donor% &t isri!ht across the street from >/C studios in LA% >atalie decided to come back$ not because of The Today Sho$ but because she anted to do it on her on and because she as a supporter ofthe *isabled Athlete)s Foundation based in San *ie!o$ and no she as a supporter of 0abitat for 0umanity because of this incredible story% As e all !ot into separate vehicles$ =achel startedto tell the true story% ;Where do & be!in ith this love story tellin! about ho & met "T$ my prince$ a%k%a% my kni!ht in shinin! armor@< =achel mused%;To eeks after the fashion sho$< =achel lamented$ ;"T calls me and said my sister anted me to reach out to you and see ho & could help you% 0e said FWell$ ho about & pay for you to come don to (iami a!ain and see my studio in action as & prepare for my second adventure ith (iami Fashion Week%) & responded to him$ but$ but$ but$ but$M%% hat@@@@ & told him & as stunned% & as a itness at your fashion sho% & asn)t askin! for your help% -our sister decided to do all this for me out of the !oodness of her heart$ and yes$ & accept the offer of a very !enerous !ift% &t as as if & kne in my heart after !ettin! off the phone ith "T that is as a leap of faith in the ri!ht direction% Boin! don to (iami all the ay from Canada to eeks later to !et fit in suit by this fashion desi!ner because & loved his ay of thinkin! and his desi!n concepts of usin! the "apanese kimono but havin! that hip look to it% And that as the first ;official< date% & kne if Cynthia introduced me to this incredible individual and & kne Cynthia)s heart as in the ri!ht place on the note to all of us% "T ould never !et his second term54adventure ith (iami Fashion Week by himself ithout Kelly because of hat happened ith =ob and (ontclair because of Kelly decidin! to eeks before !ettin! the contract for (iami Fashion Week KD1H to not participate% Sadly$ this time "T didn)t have the luck to have the supportof an ama4in! youn! oman ith C9 this time forty'ei!ht hours before he as supposed to !o on sta!e ith his sister%aomi .ust called me and anted to kno ho it as !oin! findin! help for "T% & said that it as a little bit of a process of findin! ;the uncut diamond$< but e found onefabulous one and e are orkin! ith to other people in the room ith Cynthia no as e speak% ;(ay & make a su!!estion@< >aomi asked% ;Why don)t you pick si,$ not ei!ht$ not to overhelm people$ includin! Cynthia@ This is from my personal e,perience and if a !irl named Allison stops by$ !o ahead and hire her% We secretly !ive to people ho are .ust enterin! this country to help them !et their paperork or!ani4ed and e do back!round checks on them to make sure everythin!)s okay% And let me tell you from personal e,perience that Allison as one of the best students in her class% She ould have been the best nurse in the intensive care unit$ 60but she didn)t ant the .ob ith us% She has a dau!hter ith don syndrome so she knos all about disabilities% & kinda posted The Today Sho link in the ?CLA nesletter email so you can !et a lot more leads from the nurses from our office ho are alays actually 2ualified$ unlike Tom%aomiA< & shouted% ;We really appreciate that and your support and the support of ?CLA has been incredible% -ou)re lead to 0abitat for 0umanity has been absolutely ama4in! and one of these days e)ll invite you over to the house for a reunion party and maybe even a atercolor pallet party%aomi said$ ;but & have !ot to !o and help my ne,t family ith a patient in &C?$ but & .ust anted to check in and send my love for you !uys%aomi said%;We appreciate you$< & said to >aomi% ;With the kind and lovin! souls in ?CLA$ & don)t think "T ould be here at all% & don)t think *iane ould have made it throu!h the storm ithout you !uys$ but fortunately$ ith the other diseases of the phase in hich *iane ac2uired it$ e hadto take her to a smaller hospital because of the ay it can chan!e your location$ and then the ne,tday you)re here ith your adopted brother and mom and the ne,t day she)s !one because they didn)t do hat they ere told to do% -ou ould think that people ith as much skills as doctors have they ould be able to follo directions from the head of the department$ but no$ they .ust can)t and that makes me so an!ry at all doctors in smaller hospitals and some of the lar!er hospitals$ too$ but especially the ones in the smaller hospitals% With that bein! said$ & thank you for checkin! in on us and &)ll call you if e need you$ okay@ And thanks for the advice about !ettin! si, people$ not ei!ht%aomi said as she hun! up the phone%;&)m !oin! to check on Cynthia% Are you okay$ *an$ ith "T@< & asked%;& am fine% & kno about the B'tube$ don)t orry$ and "enny is here$ too$< *an replied%;& don)t ant to move "T because he)s asleep$< & said%As & started to alk don the hallay$ & as blinkin! back tears of ho blessed e ere to have the support and the advice still from usin! their on knoled!e and poer from ?CLA%61Chapter 11The Surprise of the 9ast-es$ & slid the door a!ain and & could see Cynthia ith a hu!e smile on her face% ;We did not find ei!ht$< she said$ ;but e found si, and & think si, is a lucky number%aomi .ust called and she !oes Fdon)t have ei!ht$ hire si,$ then e can !o from there and see ho e need to replace if anyone else needs replacin!%) & think that)s a lovely idea% /y the ay$ your brother is fast asleep in his chair% ;& kno he)s e,hausted from all of this e,citement this past eek$< said Cynthia$ ;and thefeelin! of an!er from Tom% Thank you !uys for takin! them out of the room after =osemary%o$ !ive me a list so & can approve it ith "T since it)s his home$< & re2uested from Cynthia%1% 9amelaK% *an3% An!elaH% AllisonI% "udiQ% ConnieP% 9atty;+h$ no$< & said to Cynthia% ;-ou didn)t do hat & think you did%