Outpouring of love for out of state mother

COBB COUNTY - Strangers help fulfill a mourning mother's Christmas wish, with the power of social media: to pay a visit to her baby girl's grave on Christmas Eve, and leave a flower or a balloon.

"It's a huge Christmas gift. I can't be there myself to do it," said mother Michelle Powell.

Powell, who moved from Georgia several years ago, lives in South Dakota and cannot visit Georgia this Christmas due to inclement weather. 

Her baby daughter, Emma Christine Powell, is buried at the Cheatham Hill Memorial Park in Marietta. She died shortly after birth Aug. 31, 2000 from undiagnosed and untreated chorioamnionitis, which is an infection that can develop during labor.

With only her elderly mother left in Georgia, on Christmas Eve, Powell decided to ask for help on a local popular Facebook page called the "Kennesaw Ackworth Online Garage Sale," with more than 36,000 members. 

Her post reads: "I live in South Dakota now and couldn't come to Georgia for Christmas... Is there anyone that would be able to place a flower or balloon at my daughter's grave?"

People stepped up to the plate, despite inclement weather, and started leaving balloons, a teddy bear, and flowers and mementos at her daughter's grave.

Powell was overwhelmed with the response from Facebook users.

"I am really in shock so many offered and went out to put things on her grave," Powell said. "I just asked for a flower or balloon. I never imagined the outpouring of support," she said.