11-Year-Old White Lake Girl Surprised on Birthday

Article by Joe Dzenowagis

Tanae Houston of White Lake Township, celebrated her 11th birthday on Sunday, July 28, with the surprise of her life. When mom Malissa Shaw presented Tanae tickets to the Justin Bieber concert in front of the Joe Louis in Detroit, Tanae cried.   

Tanae, who uses a wheelchair, was one of eight girls with disabilities, all diehard Beiber fans, who received tickets donated by AON Insurance to Macomb-Oakland Regional Center (MORC) for a suite at the sold-out Bieber concert. MORC, Southeast Michigan's largest nonprofit, serves 5,000 people with disabilities and their families.

Shaw, like several other mothers of daughters with disabilities who received tickets, kept the tickets a secret until they got down to Detroit. "If I told Tanae that we received tickets she would have been imploding and exploding for days," said Shaw. "She would not be able to contain her excitement."  

The donation of event tickets is significant because it provides children with disabilities with opportunities they otherwise would not have. Shaw would have purchased tickets, but like many families with children with disabilities served by MORC she could not afford them.

So when the concert was announced in March Shaw tried desperately to win tickets. "I was on two phones in both hands all the time trying to win some contest," laughed Shaw. "Our people often don't have the same opportunities for things in life that others do," said Gerald Provencal, executive director of MORC. "We are thankful that businesses and people in the community have joined with us to help our people with the economic challenges of disability by providing food, clothes and furniture and by providing meaningful opportunities, this time, Bieber tickets!"

One challenge for the Shaw family was to find a way to get to the concert. They no longer have a car so Malissa Shaw spent three days trying to find a ride.  MORC offered help but Shaw said she would find a way. A neighbor let them borrow a car.

In the meantime, the Shaw family is organizing fundraisers for August 21 with Applebee's in White Lake Township and possibly Buffalo Wild Wings to help them purchase a wheelchair lift van. 

To obtain more information about how to participate please call MORC at (586) 263-8757.   

During the concert the staff at Joe Louis opened up an additional, more barrier-free suite for the families that was above and close to backstage.

At one point during the concert, Bieber was standing alone backstage below the suite. "I saw him and I shouted 'I love you Justin!'" said Tanae's mom, attempting to get a reaction from Tanae. "And Tanae, thoroughly embarrassed, shouted 'MOM!!!!'"

MORC, based in Auburn Hills, Clinton Township and Livonia, welcomes donations for people with disabilities and their families. Many people need help with food, gas cards and personal care items. Please find out how to help by calling MORC at (586) 263-8757.