A local mother is speechless after getting a surprise she won't soon forget.

Carolyn Cox's daughter, Egypt, has a rare disease called Poland Syndrome. She was born without ribs, which causes severe breathing problems. Sometimes she spends months at the University of Michigan hospital in Ann Arbor, but Carolyn is always by her side.

"It has been a long journey not knowing. And that's hard when you don't know what's going to happen," said Carolyn.

Linda Jones is a friend of the family. When she heard about TV5's "Pay it Forward" project she thought of Carolyn. She says in spite of the difficult situation, Carolyn stays positive, even helping the staff at the hospital.

"Encouraging the doctors, the nurses, the cleaning staff, everybody. She gives them words of encouragement, scriptures. She is very well deserving going through with her daughter but helping everybody else all the time," Jones said.

TV5 called Herbert Banks of New Creation Church of God in Flint, our "Pay it Forward" pastor. He was blown away by Carolyn and Egypt's courage and determination. He decided to surprise them with $200 hoping to ease the financial burden caused by Egypt's illness.

Carolyn decided to pay it forward immediately. She gave the money to Egypt, her now 17-year-old angel, who refuses to give up.

Egypt says she's going to "Pay it Forward" by buying one of her friend's a pair of blue jeans after learning she's never had one.

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