"Three years ago, Everett Atkinson was a medical disaster waiting to happen.

The 6-foot-7 homeless man couldn't stand up long without his legs swelling dangerously. His heart was bad, his circulatory system was damaged and his body was giving out after years of alcoholism, drug abuse and neglect.

Help came his way, unexpectedly, from a doctor who had bought StreetWise newspapers from Atkinson for years."