My name is Michael O’Neill and on August 3, 1972, I suffered a T-9 spinal cord injury after a fall.

After climbing up a fishing dock ladder in rural Alaska with a bag full of groceries blocking my view, I proceeded in a hurry, up the dock with my head slightly tilted towards the incoming tidewaters, where my net was catching a lot of fish at that moment. Being in a hurry, caused me to walk into the very corner of a big open section of the dock that had been removed by winter ice. Upon hitting the hard ground 20ft below, I went immediately paralyzed but was saved by a nearby fisherman friend that heard the big thump. He knew immediately what happened. I was rescued before the incoming tide could drown me and I made it safely by boat and bush plane to the far-off hospital 12 hours later.

The Be Perfect Foundation has provided me with substantial funds for an extensive vehicle modification of hand controls on a new 2020 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. This new vehicle will help me to safely and reliably travel about this awesome USA to visit national parks, family, and be involved in community-supported agriculture.

I have a lot of hope now because of an excellent reliable mode of transportation as well as hope to accomplish recreational travel and work in community-supported agriculture.

Make a Donation

Because of my declining health, 3 years ago, my medical doctor suggested that I find a place where I could swim and soak in hot springs water. So, I left Alaska in April 2017 not knowing where I would end up. But as fate and prayers would have it, I ended up in the perfect place here in Big Pine, California. I am now located about 7 miles from Keough’s Hot Springs that has an Olympic-sized spring-fed swimming pool with swim lanes and located right next to it, a 104° natural Hot Springs soaking pool. I use this facility 3-4 times per week to workout. I have lost a lot of excess weight and gained a lot of new muscle. Now I experience excellent health and hopefully, this situation will extend well into the future.

Hopefully, I won’t need any more foundational assistance in the future but instead can donate to such organizations. My future income goals are to work with other like-minded folks in community-supported agriculture by using this new vehicle to haul boxes of fresh organic vegetables and fruits to local customers. I further wish to build an off-grid little home in this area out of straw bales with an adjacent tomato/vegetable garden and have solar energy powered greenhouse to boot. I also wish to strengthen family ties and relationships and give back to the community.

I would like to send the donors of Be Perfect prayers. A positive and respectful attitude towards life really works to turn a person’s life around. I am very grateful to the donors of The Be Perfect Foundation and thank them very much from the bottom of my heart. Organizations such as Be Perfect Foundation are heaven-sent.