michael jackson saved my grandma.
in december 1997, my maternal grandparents, joseph and concetta delisi, were on an american airlines flight from JFK to LAX. sitting coach, they were visiting my family for christmas.
a couple of hours into the flight, my grandma (literally) falls ill. what started as a stomach ache, ended with granny fainting and tumbling into the aisle.
when she awakes, hovering above (next to my grandpa) and holding out his hand, michael jackson.
“are you o.k.?” mj asked, in his delicate voice.
he helps grandma up, and invites my grandparents to join him in first class. they accept.
while grandma rests, grandpa enjoys first class service and chats it up with jackson. they discuss family, food, and italy (gramps favorite subjects.)
upon landing, michael offers to drive my grandparents from LAX to my folks house (in the valley.) once again, they accept.
with grandma getting pushed through the airport in wheelchair, they make their way to MJ’s limo. however, in an effort to dodge paparazzi, they’re forced to make three limo transfers by jackson’s security.
once settled and on the 405N, michael pops-in one of his favorite movies (at the time,) men in black. they watch it together.
once they arrive at my childhood home, mom opens the front door to find my grandparents standing on the stoop, with michael jackson behind them (holding their bags.)
MJ enters the house, puts the bags down, and stands in front of the christmas tree. he is enamored by its beauty and the “family spirit” in the home.
my mom, in utter shock, FAILS to grab a camera to document the event, instead invites michael jackson back for a christmas party. he politely declines, returns to his limo, and heads to neverland ranch.
while a photograph was never taken, he left our family with an amazing memory, one that showed us michael jackson’s heart, soul, and genuine kindness.
oh, and this first class menu he signed on the plane:
as told on my buddy, aj’s, radio program:
Ralph Pacheco
Friday, 26th June 2009 at 11:28 am
Wow how random was that? I admit that I talked sh*t about MJ, but that story shed some light on the guy. Thaks for sharing that story.
I did once share a plane ride with Morris Day…not worth mentioning…lol
Tambra
Friday, 26th June 2009 at 11:30 am
That is an awesome story!!! Thank you for sharing it with us. Its so sad that he left this world so soon.
Mark
Friday, 26th June 2009 at 1:41 pm
That is a great story.
pedro
Friday, 26th June 2009 at 9:28 pm
Thanks for sharing this personal story on the radio. It was the highlight of my day.
chris cantore
Saturday, 27th June 2009 at 6:36 am
thanks all.
pedro, your comment = highlight of my day.
aloha, cc
Kerri
Monday, 29th June 2009 at 11:46 am
Great story Chris. I am a big fan of MJ’s and will always remember him for his incredible talent. It’s great to hear stories like this that shed a positive light on him. Thanks for sharing
jomelynne
Wednesday, 1st July 2009 at 4:29 pm
this is so awesome to hear. i LOVE michael jackson and he will be missed.
i’m glad that you shared this with us cause i’m tired of hearing all the negative comments about michael.
becca
Wednesday, 17th February 2010 at 1:20 pm
Thanks for sharing another great deed of Michael!!
Kate
Wednesday, 17th February 2010 at 5:39 pm
This is a nice story. However, Michael didn’t like the name “Jacko.” He thought it was very disrespectful. I just wanted to make you aware of that fact.
MJ Love fore ever
Wednesday, 17th February 2010 at 9:09 pm
it is a very touching story. Thanks for sharing. But please, if you so appreciate what Michael did for your grandma, please PLEASE, do not call him Jacko! Michael did not like this name, it is pejorative. Please understand maybe you don’t know it but Michael always asked not to be called this way.
Much Love
Leslie
Thursday, 18th February 2010 at 12:19 am
Thank you for sharing this story. It is a shame that more is not widely known about the personal kindness of Michael Jackson. There are many photos of his visits to ophanages and hosipitals, but one can construe this as good PR and photo ops.
Your grandparents’ story is really one that shows Michael’s heart.
Pam
Thursday, 18th February 2010 at 12:31 am
MJLove is right: Calling him Jacko is a derogatory, disrespectful nickname created by the British press (they started calling him “wacko jacko” to further sensationalize their reports). It hurt him and continues to hurt his family and fans.
Lana
Thursday, 18th February 2010 at 12:48 am
Beautiful story. But yes. He hated when people called him Jacko. Please view this website to learn more about the real Michael you will enjoy it.
http://reflectionsonthedance.com/
Yeah, Wacko Jacko, where did that come from? Some English tabloid. I have a heart and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me, It’s not nice.
My name is Jackson, not Jacko!
Maria
Thursday, 18th February 2010 at 6:35 am
Thanks for sharing. None of this surprises me or those who knew Michael - I saw him act in this way more times than I can count and have heard so many anecdotes from others that were never publicized. If only more people had spoken out with these truths before.
This is what Michael should, and would want to, be remembered for. PLEASE spread your story as much as you can. And please, please, please, do not call him Jacko. His name is Michael.
lovely one
Thursday, 18th February 2010 at 11:15 am
I’ve always loved this man and will always love him.
BECKS
Thursday, 18th February 2010 at 11:51 am
THAT IS OUR MJJJJJJJJ ROMANIA LOVES UUUUUUUUUU
LOVE U MOREEEEE MJ
thanks for sharing
little susie
Thursday, 18th February 2010 at 1:35 pm
hi! thank you so much for sharing.. i have a blog and there’s a part for the ones who met michael and stuff like that, would you like to share it there too please? i started the blog 2 weeks ago, and it still needs work, so if anyone else wants to leave a comment, please do so
http://www.welovemichael.wordpress.com
L.O.V.E.
Megan
Thursday, 18th February 2010 at 1:59 pm
Oh my michael thank you so much for shareing this story!!! this warms my heart and made my day!!! he was such an angel!! i wish he saved my grandma hahaha!! if he showed up at my door i would have died right there!!! thank you so much again! peace love and blessings!
nikki
Thursday, 18th February 2010 at 2:35 pm
MJ really was an angel walking on earth.
What an amazing man.
I would give anything to meet him.
thankyou for sharing this event
Nadine
Friday, 19th February 2010 at 12:07 pm
This is such a sweet and touching story! MJ had such a good heart … :’( I love you, angel ♥
Nicolàs
Saturday, 20th February 2010 at 6:42 am
I Love You Michael.
Eh Htee
Saturday, 20th February 2010 at 12:30 pm
I cant even discribe him with no words/.. what a lovely person and beloved.
Tori
Saturday, 20th February 2010 at 1:24 pm
AWW! I love how sweet he is! I heart you MJ!
Michaela
Saturday, 20th February 2010 at 1:26 pm
The most beautiful human being on Earth, both outside and inside: Michael Joseph Jackson!
For all time!
(never Jacko!! of course it’s all for L-O-V-E)
Eva Cacers
Saturday, 20th February 2010 at 2:23 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story. People who love Michael Jackson know he has/had a wonderful heart and is/was an awesome person. I referred on present and passed sentence because I’m a believer and I believe he is still with us on earth. Also I believe he has his reason to be away and his reasons are very powerful and serious for faking his dead. People still believe in media and media just destroy him and never spoke about the truth about Michael and never let the public know about the true of his heart, his concern about children who suffer all around the world, and he help them, he didn’t brag about to help them he took action and did help children who were hungry, children with HIV, children with cancer, burning children and the list can go on and on, with his kind heart he would never could hurt a child or abuse any one. But the media couldn’t sell good news about him, so they made up junk stories about Michael calling him wacko and weird just because he was different, but they didn’t see he is/was special human been and no one appreciated his kind and golden heart. I hope one day people who did condemn you realize how wrong are about you.
Thank you Michael for the all the L.O.V.E you spread among us. We LOVE YOU infinitely with all our hearts.
Kimberly
Saturday, 20th February 2010 at 4:35 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this story. This shows how beautiful this man is.
It really IS the highlight of my day to read something like this and not otherwise.
Also, i loved every bit of this except “Jacko”. Michael never liked being called this.
Thank you so much for sharing.
Jade
Saturday, 20th February 2010 at 8:05 pm
Hi Chris:
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. I have come to believe that Michael Jackson was genuinely a kind and thoughtful man who oftentimes was taken advantage of because of this. It is so sad that even when Michael went out (way out) of his way to help your grandparents, you still had to disparage him by calling him “Jacko”, a demeaning word, to be sure, meant to rob him of his humanity. That belies the life-affirming aspect of the story where 3 human beings connected in a spiritual way even for a short while. Inevitably, this will be part of your family lore to be recounted time immemorial. Also, perhaps the reason Michael might have lingered at your folks’ home could be that he was savoring a genuine moment where your family didn’t seem to want anything from him which was a rarity in Michael Jackson’s life. I don’t know, but somehow I think Mr. and Mrs. Delisi had an exceptionally rare experience in a random act of kindness rendered by a kind stranger…lamentably rare in today’s society. So, it is in this transformative sense of generosity that it behooves you to remove the offensive word from your otherwise great article. I’m sure your grandparents would appreciate it. Thank you.
Fly Away
Saturday, 20th February 2010 at 10:05 pm
Thank you very much,my friend.I come from Tianjin,China.My English is poor.I love Michael Jackson very much.I want to be a friend of you.
Antoinette
Saturday, 20th February 2010 at 10:29 pm
Thank You so much for telling this story. More people need to read, listen and come forth with these accounts of Michael. They shine a more positive and warmer lighto on what was a unfairly misunderstood man.
Please keep telling the tale and Ill pass it along too! Your friend AJ was right…”Go on CNN” hahaha
Thanks AGAIN!
AA
RIP MJ <3
aprilsunshine
Sunday, 21st February 2010 at 12:21 am
my god!! my heart was beating so fast while reading this story!!! MJ you are still the man of my dream….
Patricia Boeglin
Sunday, 21st February 2010 at 12:24 am
GREAT STORY! ….but calling him JACKO… it kind of RUINED it for me…. He found it hurtful and insulting!
Eleni
Sunday, 21st February 2010 at 3:24 am
That is why I always say Michael Jackson is an angel. Pure Perfection, Beautiful inside and out. If only the WHOLE world can see that. I am just graeful that I am who I am and not someone ignorant who doesnt WANT to see the truth. Michael Jackson forever! WE LOVE YOU MJ.
Please, his name is Jackson, not Jacko, Jacko was came from ignorant jackasses who only wish to be him
ying
Sunday, 21st February 2010 at 5:34 am
“I’m not jacko,I’m jackson!”
ilmj1314
Sunday, 21st February 2010 at 6:27 am
stop calling him jacko！！！
emiliene
Sunday, 21st February 2010 at 7:52 am
sounds like a fantasy movie……..but i believe you, i believe in every good thing they say about Michael….
Christina JJ
Sunday, 21st February 2010 at 8:25 am
How beautiful.. i will spread this story as much as i can, so everyone can see him the way i do. As one of the most incredible human beings to ever have existed, he was too good to be true. My angel ;(
but please.. the ‘Jacko’ part really sucks.. he hated that name. His name is Jackson.
Sara;ee
Sunday, 21st February 2010 at 5:28 pm
Another verification of MJ’s down-to-earth compassion & kindness. He made the world a better place.
Nandini
Monday, 22nd February 2010 at 2:25 am
Thanks for sharing this story that again shows what a warm and caring person Michael Jackson was. With all the lies that are being written about him, it is refreshing to read true experiences from people like you. This just proves how emotionally and spiritually evolved Michael Jackson was. I really want to be as good as him. God bless you always!
elizabeth- cawobeth
Monday, 22nd February 2010 at 9:01 am
what a lovely memory…Michael- brought-up to be & stayed a gentleman; gentle man.
Shaimaa
Monday, 22nd February 2010 at 9:25 am
Michael Jackson is a gentle man , just like he said , he’s the greatest <3
Viola
Tuesday, 23rd February 2010 at 5:55 am
Michael had a heart of gold. He would help people from all walks of life no matter who you were or what you looked like. Michael loved people and he just wanted to be loved. He wanted none of the acculades or praises . What he did he did from that beautiful heart and soul. Michael will live on in my heart forever until I see him in heaven one day. God bless you Michael and keep on doing what you have always done from the beyond. I love you always.
Yoly
Wednesday, 24th February 2010 at 1:01 am
Thanks for sharing the story. It was so warm and lovely. Michael is an angel.
jannette
Friday, 5th March 2010 at 8:40 am
I know MJ is innocent for all the things that throwing to his face.
Thank you for your story I know in my heart that it’s true even though no pictures.He really a good Samaritan but people always thinking that he’s doing it for publicity reasons.
I wish MJ is stilll alive I missed him so much.Feel so so so sad about all of those news.I search everyday the internet hoping that someone will tell me he’s still alive.(so so so sad here in my heart)