I Live for "Today!"

Dress Worn: Redskin uniform 

Shoes Worn : Christian Dior

I want to thank all of you for your heart felt words you have expressed to me about my health and Multiple Sclerosis. I wanted to come out and share my personal health condition to all in hopes to do public good and inspire others. For 17 years I have been able to keep it personal to me, but I decided with all the rumors and misinformation out there about me that I would get a jump start on the media and share it. My hope is to make a difference for others with, “How to have MS not to let MS have you.” This same principal can be applied to any illness or health challenge. I have been a long time supporter behind the scenes with our National MS Society in DC, and I will continue to support and be an active advocate.

Delegate Dave Albo (Republican from Virginia) has been very supportive of the Virginia Farm Winery Industry, Agriculture, and Tourism overall. It was Delegate Albo that Patroned the House Bill my husband authored that forever changed the Virginia Wine Industry to do what they can do today.  The whole idea of the bill that became law started when I shared with Delegate Albo at a party that if I had my family out to Oasis for Thanksgiving that Fauquier county would count that as one of Oasis’ “events.”  I say it often throughout the show, and it’s so true, Fauquier County reminds me of that movie “Footloose.” The country unfortunately has had a documented history of attacking the Virginia Wineries in its county. We changed that!

Virginia wineries back before this law passed were limited to the number of customers that could attend activities at the wineries. Having family for Thanksgiving is a part of sharing life. Delegate Albo agreed to help. Tareq began to write the new law. I began to lobby for it. Lobby?! What?!

I had to learn how to lobby hard in Richmond for nearly 2 years to get this bill passed. The thousands of hours that went into this first perceived controversial House Bill, eventually passed the House and the Senate nearly unanimously, and that says it all! We rocked it! I thank Jennifer my loyal assistant and Amy Lynch, who both worked so hard with me on this bill.

What’s the deal with the Redskins you ask? Who knows? After The White House night I received a call that they were overwhelmed with media and couldn’t deal with it (I know how that feels). Yet months prior I was cheering with them on the field at Fed Ex for the alumni show and highlighted this as a part of my life, which you saw on this episode. 

I was asked to get involved in the early millennium to support cheer with the Alumni . At that time I told them that cheering with the alumni was a concern, since I did not want people to know my age. The director said that if she gave me a younger year to cheer with – would I please do it?  I said what do you mean?  She said I will make you ‘91 and no one will know your age. I said ok and agreed to do it. I did cheer with the Alumni Association by their request for the last 6 years of paying dues and being active with them. I had fun helping them out.

I know we will all be interested to see what got captured on film about the night that changed mine and my husband’s lives forever.

Catch me Friday morning on the NBC Today Show when I co-host with Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb from 10am to 11am.

Love You!

Michaele

OXOXOX