“Charlotte”
January 28, 2011There are times when I see an injury happen during a football or basketball game and can’t take looking at the replays over and over and over again. Why do they like to show you the injury happening over and over again? Even CLOSE UPS! I also find it a challenge to watch people on TV navigate life with their disabilities. But when faced with these same circumstances live and direct, I move through with no hesitations. I’m not sure why that is, but I do know that something turns on inside of me when I am facing new challenges in my life. There is a confidence and strength that jumps inside of me and moves me through with a very cool, calm and collected spirit. It also helps to have someone like Charlotte smiling back at you.
Kofi and I had to tour Benyadze this month so that I could meet the community. I was told by the Headmaster that one of our orphans needed immediate assistance. This is something that I am very accustomed to hearing, but this case was a bit different. Our youth is a 15 year old JSS girl named Charlotte Appiah. Charlotte was born with a deformity in both legs. Her legs are not functional below the knees. So she gets around by using flip flops on her hands and propelling herself with the knees. Other times, she uses a wheelchair. The Headmaster told us that she needed a wheelchair. He told us that others have to push her and even they find it difficult because of the status of the wheels. 
We visited Charlotte’s class and met this beautiful and vibrant young lady. She had a smile that brightens the day and a very determined spirit about her. We took pictures of her and exchanged some pleasantries. We then asked to see her wheelchair. WOW!!! How could ANYONE navigate in that thing?! “THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!” I immediately got on my ‘CrackBerry’ and began soliciting for support. [We’ll get back to the ‘CrackBerry’ comment. I have the global plan so I just intensified my addiction.]
It was a no brainer, “GET THAT GIRL A NEW WHEELCHAIR!” So we told the Headmaster and the PTA President that we would return with her new wheelchair within the week.
I left for the States a few days after meeting Charlotte, but Kofi continued the search for the right wheelchair for her. He found one and was able to keep our word by presenting Charlotte’s new wheels within the week. This is one of those WIN WIN situations. We know the value of following through in a timely manner with situations such as this one. As a result of OBey presenting the wheelchair to Charlotte within the week, the PTA President, who is also the Elder in charge of land allocation, offered OBey land for FREE. Yes, you read it correctly…FREE! We need the land to establish a sustainable project to assist in funding the OYC program there. But of course, if you all have learned anything from my messages while in Ghana, then you all know that there is NOTHING that comes without a PRICE! All in all though, Charlotte is happy. The community is happy. OBey is happy. 
I am once again reminded of how much I LOVE MY JOB!
Love Family!
