THIS PAGE IS A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL SHULL
On the first anniversary of his death, Michael's father wrote: "Last year, on Winter Solstice, many predicted the world would end with the Mayan Calendar. On that shortest day, we experienced not only the longest night, but the most painful one, and one no family should ever go through. Our world with Michael Shull did end."
Despite its tragic end, Michael's too-brief life was a success story not only for him, but for his family, friends, and teachers. His greatest gift was his compassion for others; his love and sensitivity affected everyone he ever met. He was blessed with a loving and supportive family who realized that it was his ABILITY that set him apart from others, not his disability.
As a boy he loved ATV's, cars, the University of Tennessee Titans, and his family. Deaf from birth, he was an observer of the world. One of his teachers in Tennessee remembered a time when Michael was having his hearing tested. He smiled and raised his hand whenever he "heard" a sound. "He can hear," the audiologist insisted. "He can't," insisted the teacher. "Turn your machine off." The audiologist did, and Michael continued to smile and raise his hand just as the hearing children had done. He was not trying to pull a fast one on the audiologist; he was just eager to please and wanted to do what was expected on a hearing test! A desire to help and please others was an essential part of Michael's loving spirit.
His friends can tell hundreds of stories of his kindness and generosity; of the fun times, the jokes, and his surprise visits.
Michael was pleased to get a job working with cars; one of his main passions. Even when he was learning, he was eager to work overtime, not for the money but for the experience and joy of doing what he loved. No one really knows how many times he helped friends out with their vehicles without asking for a penny.
At the celebration of his life, a friend said, "Michael is tatooed on our hearts, and his name will be there all the rest our lives."
On the first anniversary of his death, Michael's father wrote: "Last year, on Winter Solstice, many predicted the world would end with the Mayan Calendar. On that shortest day, we experienced not only the longest night, but the most painful one, and one no family should ever go through. Our world with Michael Shull did end."
Despite its tragic end, Michael's too-brief life was a success story not only for him, but for his family, friends, and teachers. His greatest gift was his compassion for others; his love and sensitivity affected everyone he ever met. He was blessed with a loving and supportive family who realized that it was his ABILITY that set him apart from others, not his disability.
As a boy he loved ATV's, cars, the University of Tennessee Titans, and his family. Deaf from birth, he was an observer of the world. One of his teachers in Tennessee remembered a time when Michael was having his hearing tested. He smiled and raised his hand whenever he "heard" a sound. "He can hear," the audiologist insisted. "He can't," insisted the teacher. "Turn your machine off." The audiologist did, and Michael continued to smile and raise his hand just as the hearing children had done. He was not trying to pull a fast one on the audiologist; he was just eager to please and wanted to do what was expected on a hearing test! A desire to help and please others was an essential part of Michael's loving spirit.
His friends can tell hundreds of stories of his kindness and generosity; of the fun times, the jokes, and his surprise visits.
Michael was pleased to get a job working with cars; one of his main passions. Even when he was learning, he was eager to work overtime, not for the money but for the experience and joy of doing what he loved. No one really knows how many times he helped friends out with their vehicles without asking for a penny.
At the celebration of his life, a friend said, "Michael is tatooed on our hearts, and his name will be there all the rest our lives."
THIS PAGE IS A TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL SHULL
On the first anniversary of his death, Michael's father wrote: "Last year, on Winter Solstice, many predicted the world would end with the Mayan Calendar. On that shortest day, we experienced not only the longest night, but the most painful one, and one no family should ever go through. Our world with Michael Shull did end."
Despite its tragic end, Michael's too-brief life was a success story not only for him, but for his family, friends, and teachers. His greatest gift was his compassion for others; his love and sensitivity affected everyone he ever met. He was blessed with a loving and supportive family who realized that it was his ABILITY that set him apart from others, not his disability.
As a boy he loved ATV's, cars, the University of Tennessee Titans, and his family. Deaf from birth, he was an observer of the world. One of his teachers in Tennessee remembered a time when Michael was having his hearing tested. He smiled and raised his hand whenever he "heard" a sound. "He can hear," the audiologist insisted. "He can't," insisted the teacher. "Turn your machine off." The audiologist did, and Michael continued to smile and raise his hand just as the hearing children had done. He was not trying to pull a fast one on the audiologist; he was just eager to please and wanted to do what was expected on a hearing test! A desire to help and please others was an essential part of Michael's loving spirit.
His friends can tell hundreds of stories of his kindness and generosity; of the fun times, the jokes, and his surprise visits.
Michael was pleased to get a job working with cars; one of his main passions. Even when he was learning, he was eager to work overtime, not for the money but for the experience and joy of doing what he loved. No one really knows how many times he helped friends out with their vehicles without asking for a penny.
At the celebration of his life, a friend said, "Michael is tatooed on our hearts, and his name will be there all the rest our lives."
On the first anniversary of his death, Michael's father wrote: "Last year, on Winter Solstice, many predicted the world would end with the Mayan Calendar. On that shortest day, we experienced not only the longest night, but the most painful one, and one no family should ever go through. Our world with Michael Shull did end."
Despite its tragic end, Michael's too-brief life was a success story not only for him, but for his family, friends, and teachers. His greatest gift was his compassion for others; his love and sensitivity affected everyone he ever met. He was blessed with a loving and supportive family who realized that it was his ABILITY that set him apart from others, not his disability.
As a boy he loved ATV's, cars, the University of Tennessee Titans, and his family. Deaf from birth, he was an observer of the world. One of his teachers in Tennessee remembered a time when Michael was having his hearing tested. He smiled and raised his hand whenever he "heard" a sound. "He can hear," the audiologist insisted. "He can't," insisted the teacher. "Turn your machine off." The audiologist did, and Michael continued to smile and raise his hand just as the hearing children had done. He was not trying to pull a fast one on the audiologist; he was just eager to please and wanted to do what was expected on a hearing test! A desire to help and please others was an essential part of Michael's loving spirit.
His friends can tell hundreds of stories of his kindness and generosity; of the fun times, the jokes, and his surprise visits.
Michael was pleased to get a job working with cars; one of his main passions. Even when he was learning, he was eager to work overtime, not for the money but for the experience and joy of doing what he loved. No one really knows how many times he helped friends out with their vehicles without asking for a penny.
At the celebration of his life, a friend said, "Michael is tatooed on our hearts, and his name will be there all the rest our lives."
