TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - A random act of Christmas kindness started a chain of events that no one expected.
It started when an anonymous person gave $600 in cash and gift cards to a Tucson Police officer, requesting that he do something good with it. He then chose a woman named Susan to give one of the gift cards to. He learned that Susan and her dog Lola have been living on the streets for four years.
He posted about Susan on Facebook and that's when something amazing happened. A woman named Melanie Olson saw that Facebook post and said she instantly recognized the woman as her friend Susan, a former EMT who worked in the Tucson community for years.
"Just seeing her in that position was devastating," said Olson. "I knew that we had to do something to help her. This is someone that has given to this community continuously for years and in no way shape or form deserved to be living on the streets."
Support for Susan has poured in from the community, especially from fellow first responders who remember Susan as hardworking and kind with her patients.
"She was a single mom trying to make ends meet and wasn't someone relying on other people to take care of her," said Olson. "She deserves this chance to get back on her feet and know that we care. We're here and she's got a strong support system that's willing to do whatever it takes."
Olson says right now they are hoping someone will offer up an affordable housing option for Susan and her dog Lola.
Olson started a gofundme page and so far they have raised $2,800 to help Susan get into housing.
Evrn though the account has raised a lot of money, they are no longer comfortable collecting money without permission from Susan so the gofundme page has been paused.
All money on the gofundme page can be refunded if they do not get permission or if she doesn't want it.
You can follow updates on Susan's stories through the Miracle for Susan Facebook page.
