Article content continued

Then, on July 3, everything changed.

A man called to say he wanted to drop off a donation. He showed up minutes later, wearing a hat, large sunglasses and a spring coat, buttoned to the neck. “He clearly didn’t want me to know who he was,” Headley said.

The tall, middle-aged man said nothing, but handed Headley an envelope. “I said, ‘Bless you.’ That was when he smiled. Then he walked away.”

Headley opened the envelope. Inside was a bank draft for $128,000.

“I opened it up and literally fell on the floor — collapsed, crying and screaming,” she said. “My mother came running. She thought I’d fallen and hurt myself. I showed it to her and she was on the floor with me.”

By the time the two had calmed down, her benefactor had disappeared. “We have absolutely no idea who he is,” said Headley.

She can’t say enough about the angel who changed her fate. “He gave me my life back and saved my children from a horrible loss and pain that would have changed their lives immeasurably.”

Three of Headley’s children, ages 15, 18 and 23, live with her. A 30-year-old has left the nest. All were despondent at the prospect of losing their mother.

Now, thanks to her benefactor, she’s hopeful once more. “They’re going to have their mother back. We’re going to have our lives back and live like normal people for the first time in 13 years.”

Headley still faces numerous obstacles and a long road to recovery. She’s on oxygen around the clock and her joints are so stiff and painful she needs injections of narcotic drugs every two hours.