Ordinary Angels: Sharon Evans and Ashley Schmitt

The Paul Cardall Podcast

In the motion picture 'Ordinary Angels,' Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank portrays Sharon Evans, a hair dresser in a small town who works miracles to help a little girl named Michelle get a liver transplant. Sharon and Ashley Schmitt, Michelle's older sister join Paul to talk about the film on the 89th episode of The Paul Cardall Podcast. Not included in the film is Ashley's own journey getting a double organ transplant like her sister Michelle. Both Sharon and Ashely share additional experiences that are also not in the film.

READ THE BOOK

https://encouragepublishing.com/ordinary-angels

SEE THE MOVIE

https://ordinaryangels.movie/

STORY BEHIND THE FILM

Michelle Schmitt was known in Louisville, Kentucky as the “snow baby.”

The Schmitts waited for over two years for a liver transplant for Michelle, who was battling congenital liver disease. She was born with biliary atresia, the same condition as her sister Ashley. They finally got the long-awaited call on January 17, 1994, when Michelle was three years old and barely 22 pounds. A liver was available, but it was in Omaha, Nebraska. And it was in the middle of a snowstorm.

And not just any snowstorm. This was the 1994 Kentucky Blizzard, where temperatures dropped to a record-breaking 22 degrees below zero. There were 16 inches of snow on the ground. Driving would be impossible. Highways were buried and completely shut down.

Organs for transplant don’t last long outside a body, so there was a short window of time to get Michelle to Omaha for the procedure.

This real-life story of a community rallying around a young child is the basis for ORDINARY ANGELS. The film primarily follows hairdresser Sharon, who led the charge in moving the community and re-discovered purpose in her life by fighting for little Michelle.

Before the storm hit, Sharon had secured a private plane to take Michelle to Omaha whenever the transplant would be ready. The plan was to drive Michelle to Indiana for the private jet to take her the rest of the way—but now in blizzard conditions, that would be impossible.

Sharon immediately called the local radio station and requested that broadcasters ask for help. Suddenly, neighbors called in suggesting they clear the parking lot at Southeast Christian Church to create a makeshift helicopter pad.

People took to the streets with their snowsuits and shovels and garden spades—whatever they had available. The Schmitts arrived just in time: grandmother Barbara, father Ed, Michelle, and her older sister Ashley, who’d also undergone the same transplant surgery years before.

In a remarkable true story of community care and selflessness, Michelle Schmitt made it safely to Omaha during the storm and successfully received her transplant. She lived to be 30 years old and had a healthy life until she passed away in the spring of 2021.

ABOUT OUR HOST

Paul Cardall, an acclaimed Dove Award-winning musician, composer, and producer, is renowned for his music that acts as a conduit to tranquility and spiritual introspection. Boasting over 3 billion lifetime streams, 11 No. 1 Billboard albums, and recognition as one of the world's premier pianists by Steinway & Sons, Paul's diverse repertoire spans Classical, Christian, and New Age genres. His extraordinary journey includes overcoming health challenges, notably being born with half a heart and undergoing a life-saving heart transplant in 2009.

Inspired by his experiences, Paul has dedicated his life's mission to crafting healing piano music that resonates physically and emotionally. Beyond his musical accomplishments, he actively engages in philanthropy, collaborating with organizations such as The Ryan Seacrest Foundation and supporting causes like the fight against human trafficking.

His album, "Return Home," showcases 13 improvisational piano pieces, a departure from his usual compositional approach. It invites listeners on a cinematic voyage through the landscapes of his European heritage. The album, inspired by his deep connection with his wife Tina and their journey through her family's homeland in Slovenia, underscores the power of music to connect us to our past. It serves as a testament to Paul Cardall's enduring impact as an artist and empathetic soul.

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