| Show student found his life among friends Michael CIa Clapier pier Contributing Writer It was easy to overlook Mike Not physically of course Mike weighed more than pounds You could never miss Mikes Mike's size because his presence jumped into your line of sight like a semi truck stealing your freeway lane Mikes Mike's stumbling walk and unhurried speech made him less acceptable than the large people claimed by cul cul- cul- cul who are usually not a funny one ture Mike was Belushi He was Not a Farley or gentle He was real He will be this missed by his friends on campus Without looking beyond the not could easily apparent you know that Mike was born with severe birth defects He spent 15 months and gained 19 pounds before leaving the hospital So intense were the challenges he overcame that mentioning them borders on the macabre At birth his non functioning kidney kidney kidney kid kid- ney was located outside his body The kidney of his stillborn stillborn still- still born bom brother was not Mikes Mike's first operation there followed more was a kidney transplant transplant transplant trans trans- plant from one lifeless sibling giving life to a brother Mike his real name was Christopher Michael Davis came from from more diversity pain and suffering than most people understand can ever know or The fact that he lived 35 years was more than medical marvel It was a miracle Mike died quietly in his sleep by causes that remain unknown last week Acceptors of diversity could 1 c rw lP see the real Mike By looking beneath the surface his friends found an animal shelter volunteer volunteer volunteer volun volun- teer who knew the animals needed him to watch out for them Those who passed passing passing passing pass pass- ing judgment found a man who loved to ride a bike cook stick stickup stickup stickup up for the underdog and hold to his faith Mike finally found family V J peace and meaning while a student student student stu stu- stu- stu dent at where he was no longer labeled retarded or unlovable What was remarkable was how Mike changed at I wish you could have seen him before he started at this campus It was almost like an empty sponge was given a chance to grow said his mom He was a kind hearted man who always looked for the best bestin bestin bestin in people and all situations He will be missed by those fortunate fortunate fortunate fortu fortu- nate enough to truly know him In appreciation there will be bea a gathering at 1357 North Conifer Street East in Tooele on July 15 2006 It willbe willbe will willbe be informal between 1 and 6 pm p.m. a time to share memories thoughts and not overlook onetime onetime one onetime time when some of us got it right |
