I got to know the Riggle family about four years ago, when I told the story of Evan Riggle, and how his parents suspected that mercury in vaccines had weakened his immune system and triggered his autism. Since then, Evan's mother, Emlyn, has kept me updated on his progress and on her and husband David's research.

As I have shared with Mrs. Riggle, since first meeting them, I have harbored a concern for the Riggle family. They will obviously do anything they can for their son. But, there are plenty of charlatans who exploit families' love for their children. Her talk of specialists in Florida and Ireland concerned me that they might be in that situation.

Yet, she was always well reasoned, scientific and prayerful in her conversations with me. And, over the past few years, Emlyn Riggle has become my tutor in understanding several big issues related to autism.

Which brings us to glutathione, a naturally occuring amino acid/antioxidant in the body which occurs in lesser levels in autistic kids. Glutathione injections were available at a specialist in Florida, but traveling to and fro was not financially feasible.

So, Emlyn -- and I can imagine the conversation - took to Kosair Children's Hospital as she had once convinced me. Eventually, she convinced them to administer the glutathione to Evan at Kosair.

That led to several other kids with autism getting the injections, too. It's a very limited sample, but these children have experienced significant improvement in aggressiveness, speech and eye contact. "My son dressed himself for the first time," one woman told Dr. Stephen Wright, Kosair Medical Director.

Intrigued, Kosair mulled the possibility of studying glutathione on a larger group, fifty children. When Michala heard such a study would cost $200,000, she took it upon herself to raise the money by making and selling bracelets for $2, then $3.

In the news, we cover so many fundraisers and "1st Annual" events that never have a second that it is easy to doubt the potential of such a quioxitic goal. But Michala said simply, "You gotta believe."

She is a charming child, mischievous, loving and wise beyond her years. I recall sitting in the Riggle's living room as Michala bounced around to position herself before Evan's eyes. As Evan moved around the room, she would overenunciate short words in the hope he could repeat them, "ball, Ball, BALL." Her love for him was obvious, then.

So, I should not have had any doubt when we sat down together in a Kosair waiting room in September and Michala dangled bracelets in front of me. Far be it from me to step on a child's admirable but impossible dream, so a separate story of her efforts ran on WHAS11 after I disclosed the autism study.

But, that story made a difference. As Michala showed up at community events to sell her bracelets, people knew who she was, from the Gaslight Festival to the St. James Court Art Show.

In October, I got a call from a woman who wanted to give Michala a free booth at a women's expo in Brandenburg. I relayed the information. It was a long drive with no guaranteed payoff, but Emlyn Riggle tells me that their family prayed before departing for Brandenburg that God deliver "one big donor" that day.

As it happens, that's where Michala met someone with the very private Ephraim and Wilma Shaw Roseman Foundation. She was told that they might consider making a donation, maybe even as much as $10,000.

That was Michala's mindset when she entered the news conference at Kosair. When she unwrapped an oversized check for $100,000, first her jaw dropped and then tears fell. Tears of joy.

She had reached her goal. Shortly thereafter, the Childrens' Hospital Foundation's Lisa Buddeke translated that reality for everyone else, "Physicians at Kosair plan to begin the glutathione studies on fifty patients in January," she said. Emlyn and Michala embraced.

Michala's interview with the waiting reporters was so pure, sincere and heartfelt. She choked back tears as she thanked everyone who helped her reach her goal, "I would have been beading in my sleep to raise that much."

Later, an editor at WHAS11 News commented to me that it is so rare to see such joy on the news. "Except maybe lottery winners," he said. But Michala's joy was so much deeper, because she was celebrating for the other children who will have the opportunity to have a better life through the glutathione treatment.

On Good Morning America, they titled this story a "holiday wish." Not quite accurate, but I cannot think of a more fitting example for any of us in this "holiday season." It is truly better to give than to receive.

I can read that clearly through the tears of joy.