CONYERS, Ga. - It was a force of nature that brought Michael Millin back to Georgia.
“It was close to the end of the summer when Irma hit,” the 17-year-old told 11Alive. "The day of the hurricane, the islands shut down all the power. We just waited for the hurricane to come. When the winds started picking up, my mom and me started getting scared."
The category 5 hurricane slammed Millin's home, St. John, as well as St. Thomas, leaving a trail of destruction.
"We walked outside, and we saw the house next to us was completely destroyed. Our roof was gone…our inside of the house was completely flooded with water," Millin said.
Photos show scope of damage from Irma on St. John Island in U.S. Virgin Islands
Millin and his mom were forced to evacuate only to arrive in Puerto Rico to find Hurricane Maria was bound for the island.
“We had one suitcase because we had to go on a boat. I left behind basically my whole life," Millin said.
The pair found refuge in Conyers where they lived with his sister for a few months.
A year later, the mom and son are still working towards normalcy. Millin and his mom now live at an extended stay. Despite his mom working, the Salem High School 10th grader wanted to do his part.
This summer, Millin landed a weekend job at Taco Bell, where his story struck the heart of his supervisor, Kali Thomas. It was a story Thomas knew well.
“I was that kid,” Thomas told 11Alive. “I was 16 when I got my first job supporting my mom and my sister so I could really empathize with Michael and what he was going through."
He was so inspired, Thomas took Millin shopping, the picture of their purchases posted on Facebook went viral.
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“I was truly and generously surprised that all that happened. I was at a loss for words," Millin said.
Thomas posted his intention to continue helping his "work son," even setting up a GoFundMe to give them a "boost on their journey back to a normal, stable life."
"They were living a nice life in the islands and Mother Nature took that away," Thomas said. "To be in a situation where she’s working a part-time job, he’s working a part-time job, no one could predict that."
