Find more info at: www.angelfire.com/ut2/turtles.

Nov. 29, 2000

This is a story about generosity. It's about a woman who has spent her life helping others, but now finds she is the needy one. And about the young woman who has vowed to help her.

News Specialist Shelley Osterloh has the story.

Sometimes kind people are rewarded for the generosity. In this case, a woman who has always taken care of others, is receiving help from another.

Olive Christensen and Dawn Wisdom have known each other for less than 2 years. But Wisdom -- a composer -- has come up with a musical plan to help her friend.

They met here at a medical equipment assembly line where they both worked.

Dawn Wisdom/recording artist: JUST TALKING TO HER, HER NATURE, THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF HER LIFE. I MEAN, IT JUST OVERWHELMED ME.

Life has dealt some hard blows to Olive.

After a divorce, she raised her six children alone, working for insurance companies and grocery stores, still finding time to grow food for the needy, and help in other charitable causes.

Then when two of her adult children died, she took in two grand daughters and raised them.

This great-grandma still works a 12 hour day -- 40 hours a week -- assembling kidney dialysis machines.

Olive Christensen: I JUST FEEL LIKE AS LONG AS I CAN GET UP IN THE MORNING, AND GET TO WORK AND DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO, I'M PRETTY FORTUNATE.

Though she likes the company and fellow workers, at 71 years old, she'd like to retire. But this hardworking woman has a $40,000 mortgage on her once-paid off home.

Olive was sued by one of the adult grand daughters she raised, for money the woman thought she should have received from her mother's insurance settlement.

Olive says she spent the money raising the girl.

Olive Christensen : BUT THE JUDGE SAID I DIDN'T GO INTO COURT EVERY TIME I SPENT MONEY ON HER, AND SO I'D HAVE TO BE PUNISHED AND THAT WAS THE ONLY WAY HE KNEW TO PUNISH ME. SO I ENDED UP BORROWING MONEY TO PAY HER.

The grand daughter has since apologized, and Olive still babysits her kids and helps her in other ways. Her kindness, and devotion to family, touched her co-worker, Dawn Wisdom.

Dawn Wisdom/recording artist: SHE HAS HAD SUCH A CHRIST-LIKE ATTITUDE ABOUT THE WHOLE THING, HAS NEVER GIVEN UP, NEVER GIVEN UP ON ANYTHING. AND OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF HER HEART HAS DONE MANY THINGS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE WRONGED HER. AND I FEEL IT'S MY CALLING TO HELP HER.

Dawn is a composer and is donating the proceeds of her latest C.D. to Olive.

Dawn Wisdom/recording artist: MY GOAL IS TO RAISE $40,000 TO PAY OFF OLIVE'S MORTGAGE, SO SHE CAN RETIRE. I DON'T WANT HER TO WORK ANYMORE.

Dawn is now working on her second album with singer Marrissa Porritt. And will include the single with her first CD, all in an effort to help someone, who has helped so many others.

The CD, "Through Your Eyes," is available through a web-site where you can even listen to some of it. The cost is $15.

You'll find it at www.angelfire.com/ut2/turtles.