Growing up with very little, Michael realized at an early age that the most important things in life are not really things at all, but the love and support of family. He also learned that hard work and determination would be vital if you ever want to be successful in life. This attitude would be instrumental later in life when Michael would face the most difficult challenge of all after being severely burned in a tragic fire.

At school, Michael experienced difficulty. He did not apply himself to his full potential, and being of a small stature, he was often bullied which led to a disinterest in school. Later, his recovery from his injuries would result in an extensive absence from class and this, combined with becoming a teenaged father, resulted in him dropping out.

Years later, still dealing with severe mobility impairments and unable to obtain regular employment, Michael realized that his only chance for success and opportunity would be to attain a higher education. He returned to high school and after much hard work, he graduated at the top of his class. His academic achievement earned him entry into the Psychology program at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, where he successfully completed a four-year Bachelor of Arts Degree.

Michael’s dedication to volunteer work also led him to begin telling his story in 1993 to small audiences such as youth, church groups, and nursing students. Over the years, motivational speaking has become his passion, and he now captivates large audiences ranging from police, fire, and medical personnel, to many other community and volunteer organizations.

Today, Michael is the proud father of a teenaged son Ryan. Also, his lifelong dedication to physical and emotional fitness has led to his achieving a dream of becoming a personal fitness trainer. Rather than focus on his painful physical and emotional past, Michael helps others find joy in the journey of life.

He has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles, notably Downhome magazine , Today’s Parent and The Newfoundland Herald. Michael has made several local television appearances over the years on programs including CBC’s Here and Now and the NTV Evening Newshour, as well as appearing on ATV News in Nova Scotia.