Minnesota
From a foster home to a doctors office, how a Minnesota man defied the odds
Only 3-4% of former foster youth obtain a four-year college degree according to The National Foster Youth Institute.
When WCCO met Michael Kelly a few years ago, he was a young student bucking that trend. He had not only graduated but had started medical school.
WCCO sat down with Kelly again, to reflect on his childhood growing up with Duluth, Minnesota where his life was forever changed by a court-assigned worker.
Here’s the full story:
Life can change an in instant.
For Michael Kelly, his life changed when a worried court-assigned worker found out he was living in a cold garage and eating out of a shoebox.
“[the worker] said, “That’s not what life is supposed to be, we are gonna put you in a foster home,” Kelly recalls.
Eventually at 17 and a half, Kelly moved out of that foster home and became homeless.
“I was a transient, couch surfer,” said Kelly.
Amidst the rockiness, he’d always found stability in school. Kelly got a scholarship to St. John’s University.
“During college, I always had to find opportunities, during Spring break, winter break find places to stay. I didn’t have a place, I didn’t have a bedroom, I didn’t have – the next day wasn’t planned out for me it was just surviving,” said Kelly.
Against all odds, he got in to Medical school at the University of Minnesota.
But things got rocky again…
“I actually failed my first medical school test, by one point, I was devastated by 69%, needed 70% to pass and I was like, ‘I am done,’” said Kelly.
But he didn’t let that derail him.
Kelly didn’t just adjust, he thrived, helping launch a mentorship organization to support first generation students.
“I finally feel like I am in a position where I can give back. It took a lot of support from my village, but I am finally at the point I can give back and give to the community,” said Kelly.
He explained the most emotional moment.
“Getting into Mayo was just something that blew my mind, extremely emotional for me,” said Kelly.
A surprise that was recently revealed on residency match day.
“It was trials and tribulations but focusing on the why got me to where I am today and I am going to Mayo in two months, to be a doctor,” said Kelly.
Kelly walked, and the people who’ve walked beside him, cheered, including his wife, who he met in college, and her family.
Kelly’s mother-in-law said, “He’s just a good person and it comes through in everything that he does.”
Kelly’s oldest friend, Mona Zeidan said, “He was very much a people pleaser and I’m not surprised he became a doctor, I am really not. He used to say when we were kids that he was gonna be a doctor and we’d chuckle about it and he did it, he did it.”
YES, he did.
Kelly told WCCO, “I think at the end of the day I just want my patients to feel seen, valued and loved.”
So after years of discomfort, this doctor is devoted to truly making make others feel good.
Kelly chose family medicine and wants to practice in a rural area. He says what he loves about that is that you can serve patients of all ages starting at birth and have long-term relationships.
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Vice President JD Vance said he stands with ICE agents after the fatal shooting of a woman at a protest in Minnesota.
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Protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are continuing across the Triangle this week, fueled by anger and fear after a woman was shot and killed during an immigration enforcement operation Wednesday in Minnesota.
Adali Abeldanez, owner of Moroleon Supermarket in Durham, said fear is impacting daily life and local businesses, including his own.
“People are still stressed and worried,” he said.
Abeldanez said he has seen a noticeable change in customer behavior since ICE operations intensified. While his store has offered delivery services for years, he noticed requests surged in November, when ICE was in the state, and have remained high.
“That uptick in delivery – do you believe that’s directly tied to people’s fear about ICE?” WRAL asked Abeldanez.
“Oh yeah, for sure,” he said.
He said some store clients are afraid to leave their homes and are relying on organized deliveries instead. Abeldanez said his wife is undocumented and frightened, a feeling he said is widely shared in the immigrant community.
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Abeldanez believes ICE agents need more training and greater accountability.
“They’re dealing with people — human beings. It’s life,” he said. “The law should be enforced, but obviously with due process and taking into consideration humanity, being humane.”
He also criticized what he described as racial profiling; he said agents approach people in public spaces based on appearance rather than targeted investigations.
“They should have some kind of plan to know where to go, who to look for, and not just randomly pick people,” Abeldanez said.
Despite his concerns, Abeldanez said he felt encouraged by this week’s protests, as long as they remain peaceful.
“As long as it’s something peaceful, I feel proud,” he said. “Seeing people protest in favor of protecting the immigrant community — I think that’s awesome.”
But while both sides believe peaceful protesting is important, the divide is regarding ICE’s actions.
Matt Mercer, communications director for the North Carolina Republican Party, said the Minnesota shooting involved an agent acting in self-defense, citing video evidence and injuries the agent sustained.
“There’s a human element where someone loses their life, which you never want to see,” Mercer said. “But the video speaks for itself.”
Mercer said recent confrontations with ICE agents are not peaceful protests but attempts to obstruct federal law enforcement.
“If you wish to protest, do that in ways you can traditionally protest,” Mercer said. “Surrounding agents, obstructing vehicles or creating chaos is not legitimate protest.”
The Minnesota incident remains under investigation. Meanwhile, protests in the Triangle are expected to continue, including one Friday night in Durham.
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