Michael was life’s greatest gift.
Mike was a sweet, beautiful boy who loved spending time with family and friends. His mom, Glenna, remembers Mike’s love of the Superman shirt she made him. He wanted to wear it to daycare every day. He had a great sense of humor and loved making people laugh. Mike watched the movie Hook and when his mom asked if he liked the movie, Mike replied, “What was Captain Hook’s name before he lost his hand?” His mom knew then that Mike looked at life uniquely.
Mike loved airplanes and travelling. He vacationed in Spain, Costa Rica, New York, Alaska and other locations. He loved learning about other cultures and trying their regional cuisines. Mike became interested in cooking from the experiences of his travels.
Mike attended Orlando Magic summer camps as a child, which sparked his love of the Orlando Magic and the NBA. In high school, he enrolled in radio/tv classes and gave the morning announcements. He was a skateboarder, guitar player and well known for writing electronic music.
Mike always made his friends feel included. After his passing, his mom heard many stories of Mike helping a friend in need. Mike’s family was awarded his AA degree posthumously by the President of Valencia College in a private ceremony. He planned to attend the University of Central Florida to major in Computer Science. The Michael M. Oro Memorial scholarship was established at UCF and is awarded annually to a student in need.
Mike worked at Chick-Fil-A, where he made many lasting friendships and earned a $1,000 scholarship. His last job was as a barista at Starbucks. His family enjoyed frequenting his workplace for a hand-crafted latte made by Mike.
There are many stories about how Mike helped his friends. “The ironic part was that Mike could not help himself,” his mom stated. As his addiction progressed, he became distant, unreliable, and out of touch for days. His family could not force him to get help because he was over 18 and would not release any medical records to his family. “I can only describe life with someone who suffers from Substance Use Disorder as pure hell,” his mom said.
Glenna’s life is now quiet. She misses her son. She has somehow leaved to cope, but in her house, where there was once a child’s laughter, there is now silence. His mom misses his companionship, hugs, smile and hearing his voice.
Glenna has been vocal about the cause of Mike’s death, hoping it will help others. She loves to talk about Mike and says people are afraid to talk about those who have passed away. She said, “Just know, talking about them keeps their spirit alive.”
Mike’s mother, Glenna Oaldon Oro, provided the information for this narrative.
June 22,1987-July 23, 2015
Age 28-Lived with the disease of addiction 11 years
