A Teenager with Dementia and his Loving Family 

This interview was filmed the day after Michael's 17th birthday. We even had cake to celebrate! Thank you Michael, Monique, MaKayla, and LaQuanda for having me!

His mom just radiates love, she literally looks like the best mother this young man could have 😊

Michael just lives in a house full of LOVE! Everyone surrounding him is so joyful and happy to be with him, it just fills my heart! ❤ Hey Michael! 👋

I think Micheal’s mom and strong family are the biggest reason why he’s alive and full of vibrant energy. Hearing about how his mom makes sure he does his breathing treatments four times a day when he has pneumonia is amazing. If only all parents could love their children like how Micheal is loved.

The mother is truly invested and knowledgeable of her sons condition. The love of a mother❤

Michael is the embodiment of the saying on your wall…He LIVES, he LAUGHS, and he LOVES. He’s such a bundle of joy and sunshine. And the dude has some MOVES! Get it, Michael! Go ahead on! You have a beautiful family. Many blessings to you all! Thanks for putting a smile on my face today, Michael! ❤️

It brings me joy to see these people are well looked after, as they should be.

I think the dance intermission gave me all the joy I need today ❤

He's beautiful. And she's so beautiful it's making me cry.

My daughter Desirae passed from Neimann-Pick type C. Its a form of child dementia shortly before her 3rd birthday in November. These stories always made me think of her. It reminds me of the love she gave us and how much she meant to us. Thank you for this. I love you Desirae Kyla.

That dance intermission is pure joy and I won’t forget that or the love in this extended family 😊❤

There's something about music that seems to stick with us even when other memories and abilities are failing. Before we lost him a couple of years ago, my dad's cognitive faculties were declining from dementia and he was at the point where he'd lost much of his ability to speak and couldn't even recognize my mum. My mum found his old cassette tapes of Colombian Cumbia music that he used to dance to around the house when I was little, and she copied them onto a CD to play for him at the nursing home. Not only did he recognize it immediately, he remembered all the words. Music transcended his dementia and connected to something deeper. I could see the same magic when Michael was dancing to the music and when he'd finish the lines of songs with his mum. He had more words, more physical control, and such a huge smile whenever there was music. It made my heart happy to see it. This was a lovely video of a beautiful family. I wish them all the absolute best.

The whole family is so fun, warm, and loving. Mr. Tony is a whole nother level. You can tell how protective he is of Mike, and how proud he is of him. He is a great role model, and we should all do our best to emulate his attitude. The world would be a much better place.

Whenever I feel discouraged by the atrocities of the world, I come to your channel. No other creator has such tender-hearted followers. The comment section is always filled with positivity, kindness and empathy. This is truly your mission. Nice to meet Michael! Kudos to his strong and sweet mama!

Michael was born into the perfect family for him. The love and positivity in this video is infectious. I constantly found myself smiling.

Makes me tear up. My brother had San Fillippo which is another dementia like mucopolysaccharidosis. Such similarities at that age. But the love that exists in this family is much like the love in ours. Something very special about these children. You're amazing Michael!

I don’t think you can watch this video and not feel and see all the love every person in this family has. This is such a beautiful family! They are lucky to have Michael and Michael is lucky to have them. Sending lots of love to this incredible family ❤

Michael had such joy while dancing with his momma and teasing his Auntie. To Michael’s mother I would just like to say you’re doing a great job! Keep up the hard work momma

What a nice bunch of people. I wish I was more like them.

Michael has an infectious smile! ☺️ He seems like such a happy, fun soul. I loved watching the 3 of you have a blast dancing and playing! Thank you to Chris, Mike and also his loving family for sharing their story to all of us. ❤

His grin in the dance break 😍

Momma saving the last words for Michael to sing is awesome. What a great way to encourage speaking! What an inspiring group of people in this family. Love the dancing. Happy Birthday to Michael!

So much love and positive energy. Lot's of respect for the whole family.

He is beyond precious and his family is simply golden! ❤

Micheal is surrounded by some wonderful people. Micheal is thriving due to all of them. Many blessings their way.

Such a sweet family!

I like seeing Chris interacting with his new friends. I like it when Chris edits a bit of that right at the beginning, when Chris says hello to them. It's a good way to introduce the audience to the host a guest, without being too formal.

The whole family has so much chemistry together! Couldn't help but smile along with them ✨ mama is doing great

Michael:Hey!!! Me : *excited and interacting with him as if he where in front of me* : Heyyyyyyy! ❤😊 He is so precious seeing the way his mom interacts with him and is so loving with him.

Such a sweet kid! I love his relationship with his Aunt! You can tell even though he might have lost the ability to verbalize the sarcasm and joking relationship is still there which is a sign of high intelligence and comprehension! Bravo to a wonderful family doing a great job with this sweet guy!

As I was a special needs teacher for 19 years a while back I am in my late 50s now I look at Michal and smile with such joy I wish I could spend time with him and just play with him and see that sweet boy in person spreading. His god giving joy .hey Michael sending love and hugs to you and you keep on being just who you are your beautiful.❤❤❤❤

I'm here for that super sweet dance break! Michael's got some moves!!! ❤

Michael's enthusiasm for football made me smile. It was so contagious. : D

Micheal is a great person who is very loved he has a eonderful family

such a phenomenal mom!

When you realize you have smiled through an entire video. 😇🌟✌🏼

Michael has the most beautiful smile 😊😊😊 You could see how much he loves his Auntie. His face was just lit up. His Momma is so great with him. And his God Father just adores him as well. What a wonderful family 🤗🤗🤗

When Michael belched after you asked Kayla what it's like to hear him make different sounds, I got a good chuckle 😂 This family is absolutely beautiful inside and out, every single one of them!!! Thanks for sharing Michael's story. ❤

Hello dear friends, thank you so much for sharing your wonderful video and great interview with us! ♥️🙏🏼🥰. Like 145 👍🏻♥️💕💞📖💞🌹🤗

That young man is SO LOVED for exactly who he is. That's ❤️ beautiful

What an outstanding family Michael has! The quality and quantity of love by square foot at his house is out of charts. Bless you all throughout your lives. You are all gifted human beings. Thank you for sharing this heart-warming story!

The smile on Michael's face when he was dancing shows he really enjoys it. He seems so sweet ❤😊

The joy from Michael and his family radiates! ❤

It warms my heart to see Michael and his amazing support system! Thank you as always for sharing these people and stories that remind me of the good in the world.

He wouldn't live past 5. Hey yeah ! Need that spirit

Love the purple couch 👍🏻♥️ Sweet young man 👍🏻

Hi Michael! I loved your video so much! I’m glad you’re all smiles, it makes me happy too🤗 Your mom seems so nice, I bet you’re so thankful to have such a warm, devoted and loving mother. And I wish my cousins visited more often, it looks like you guys get along great 😁

What a good mama.

I love the questions that you ask, and the way you try to understand these families. Wonderful to see Michael surrounded by so much love and support. Keep up the amazing work, always a pleasure to watch SBSK.

This really warmed my heart ❤️❤️❤️. AND I absolutely love the T-shirts he and his mom were wearing, "Don't stare at me, play with me". Those shirts should be mass produced.

Who else dancing along? Awesome dance break

Hes such a happy child, i love these videos and very grateful to the families that share their stories with us. It really helps people like me who knows nothing about many of the conditions to learn about them and how to interact with them should a meeting ever arise. So from the bottom of my heart thank you chris and all the families. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Michael and his aunt have me in tears!! 🥹🩷 the absolute joy from both of them. You are such an awesome family!

Hopefully Tyler Perry sees this and will make a visit. It would be really fantastic

Respect and hugs to Michael, his Mom and family. Such a beautiful, loving family. They are truly blessed in ways many of us are not.

He reminds me of my little cousin ! Adorable!

Happy late birthday, Michael! 🎉🎉🎉

What a wonderful group of people around Michael. He is a lovely person and those who love him so much are a real blessing in this world. Thank you for this uplifting video. ❤

he seems sweet I would love to be his friend and meet his mom

I love this family. I can tell they have a light. I wish them the Best of the world. They deserve it 💛

Such a sweet family

What a wonderful family ❤️

I found myself smiling the whole time. What a wonderful family.

The love in that home is incredible ❤

*SUCH LOVE ALL AROUND!* *HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!* 🎂😍🙏🕊️

He's probably one of the happiest babies with 1 of the most physical and mental altering diseases that some people would just be debilitated, but this baby is smiling and dancing and acting like every day is a party and mama. You did a great job and the host of this channel. Sir, for you to interact with these babies, you just make it all the more beautiful God bless you all.

Happy Birthday Michael!!! I love your dancing and that gorgeous smile!!!! You all are so blessed to have each other !!! You can tell how much love and respect you have for eachother!!!! God bless you all! Thank you for sharing your life! Love from Lawrence Kansas!!!

What a happy young man. Good job family. Your love and care shows in leaps and bounds. Bless you all.

He gives so much joy to those around him, which is more than a some people ever contribute to the world. His bright smile is everything. ❤

OK not even 2 minutes in and I am so, so impressed with mom!!!

Mike is awesome and so is his family and godfather. ❤️

What an awesome family! ❤❤❤

I enjoyed watching Michael dance! He's so cool!

Their dance is so nice!

What beautiful humans! I had to dance with you, Michael and Mom. Your dancing is contagious. Thanks for sharing a view into such amazing love.

All love ❤❤❤❤❤

He's got so much love surrounding him and that's why I believe he's so happy especially.😊

His smiles infectious!! ((:

I love it. He's such a goofball, full of joy. His family is amazing too. They know each other so well. He gives me hope.

That was so uplifting! The dance intermission was the cutest thing! Michael's family is so loving and nice, he is a lucky guy ❤

He is precious. Looks like he brings sunshine wherever he goes, too. What a phenomenal family. 🥰

Michael is truly blessed to live his life surrounded by people who love and care for him 24/7. It's truly a different and simple world than we all live in. One filled with happiness, laughing, and family. It must be an amazingly beautiful world to be surrounded by so much love. May he have this love for the rest of his life. God blessed this family with Michael.

Michael seems so happy and well-loved. I'm glad he has such a warm and caring family. I was smiling the whole way through!

"I'm having a day" I feel that.

I adore his mom and the village! Love his spunk with his Auntie, you can tell they're crazy about him 🥰🥳

What an incredible family, and such a beautiful, joyous young man! His smile makes me melt. ❤❤❤

The dancing was the best part, so great to see Micheal enjoying the dnace, and great moves too!

I always smile while watching your channel. It’s so sincere and natural, you really accept us, disabled people, and enjoy making a story about a PERSON!! You don’t show us being miserable, you show us as people with personalities and life. And I’m so grateful for the work you do. Please keep up, you’re such a blessing!!

Your channel is truly such a blessing to our world. Every child or adult you interview gives your viewers more knowledge, more empathy, more love. Thank you for showing the public that everyone deserves love and respect regardless of any disability/disease etc. your videos always make me feel so warm and happy ❤

Michael had me smiling and laughing so much, what a bright young man and how lucky this family is to have each other!

Just thank you.

What a great mom. I can tell she loves her son and is proud of him. I'm glad he has so many people around him to love him unconditionally and be so supportive. 😂

Michael has such a loving family. The fact that he tries so hard to communicate and has the energy that he does is a testament to their love.❤

I love your channel! Michael has some awesome dance skills!! ❤❤ I am so glad you are able to bring awareness to so many rare diseases for both young and older people. I have a rare autoimmune disease (Wegener’s Granumaltosis) that affects approximately 3 in every 100,000 people. Awareness for those of with rare diseases is so important.

Heeeeyyy Michael! 🥰❤He is so sweet! I love how his family loves him so much! They all seem so fun 🥰🥰

What an incredible and beautiful smile Michael has. So much happiness he shares with his family. Thank God you didn't give up on him in the beginning. What an awesome family support system !!!!!!!!!!!!

Awe! Michael is adorable and he has a wonderful family! Thank you for sharing his story with us!! 💜💜

Michael and his family are amazing ❤ So much love and kindness. This is exactly how family should be ❤

Happy belated birthday Michael!! Seems like such a genuinely good, kind & really happy kid! Really appreciate this channel & how it showcases all different walks of life and some of the issues every day life presents to them and their families/friends. Learning about all the different diagnostic terms, names, symptoms & the specialized diagnosis etc is something i think is beneficial to everyone. Another great interview, great family! His dance moves are sweet, especially the little shoulder shrug & bounce move on the couch. Awesome just how happy he is & how much joy he brings into everyone's life he touches

What a great family! Michael has the greatest smile, and he just seems so joyful and happy to be around his family. ❤