A 61-year-old woman raised her hand and patiently waited for the President to call on her at a town hall meeting.

At last, President Obama sees her, and Henrietta Hughes takes a huge step into the national spotlight.

"This young lady's been waiting very patiently and she's just been standing there, making me look all guilty," said the President.

Then, Hughes tells her story of how she and her son have been living in a car for more than a year.

"We need something more than a vehicle to live in and a park to go to. We need our own kitchen and our own bathroom," said Hughes. "Please help," she finally pleads.

Her plea moved the President so much, he left the podium in Fort Myers, Florida to offer Hughes a kiss and a promise. "We're going to do everything we can to help you, but there are a lot of people like you."

Hughes' story didn't just touch the President, it's touched the rest of America as well.

Chene Thompson, the wife of a Florida state representative, offered Hughes a house that she's owned for years, but which now sits vacant and unsold in Florida's tough real estate market.

Now Henrietta Hughes, who was laid off from her job as a secretary and has survived three bouts of cancer, is facing a new life. Her run of hard luck is turning around all because of her unforgettable presidential moment.

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Just after President Obama's speech, White House aides connected Ms. Hughes with local housing authorities.