Mansfield, TX – A mother of twin third grade students at Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary who was diagnosed with cancer was treated to her own little tour of Italy on Monday, January 14.
Machele Jones was diagnosed with cancer five years ago which has since traveled to many parts of her body. According to doctors, she should be in a wheelchair with little to no function at all.
Through the generosity of her husband’s employer, Machele and her family were offered an all-expenses paid trip to anywhere she would like to go. Machele chose Italy, but she was informed by her physicians that her health would prevent her from making the international trip. Office staff, teachers, parents and community members of Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary School decided to help make her dream of an Italian trip a reality.
The campus office was transformed into an Italian escape complete with Cafe La Sheppard where she dined on food donated by
Carinos Italian Grill and
Bellavita's Italian Restaurant, both of Mansfield along with food from friends and staff.
It was a complete surprise as Machelle believed that she was simply having a special day out with her mom, Zaneta Miller, when in reality that special day was shared among many well wishers including staff, parents, and people who heard about it and wanted to be help out and share in any way they could. Her children, Jonathan and Jordan, were her escorts into Sheppard's version of Italy.
