Angelica H. (Jelly)

Over the past two-and-a-half years, Daisy H. has had the pleasure of watching her cerebral palsy, wheelchair-stricken daughter blossom into an independent, mobile young lady. Angelica (Jelly) H., now 14 years old, was only able to tour her new HFHSL home in March 2000 with the assistance of two cousins lifting her wheelchair up the front porch steps and wheeling her inside.

Now she runs in and out - playing, riding her bike, even swimming in the backyard pool. Jelly has made a conscious choice to take control of her life and dreams. A few years ago she would sit idle, gazing at blank paper for hours, unaware of her surroundings. Communication was very limited, basically infant babbling, translated only by Mom. For 12 years, Jelly's family could only imagine and speculate on her needs and desires, but now she clearly expresses herself, teaching the world who Angelica is.

With the love and unselfish deeds of her family's Habitat sponsor group, ARCO Construction Company, and a handful of volunteers, she is able to continuously improve on her gross motor skills through yard play and countless repetitions on the basement stairs, which she has now mastered.

Jelly is able to partake in everyday activities that many take for granted: bathing, brushing her teeth, and even holding intimate conversations with family. Just a few weeks ago she held a conversation for the first time with her great grandmother, bringing tears to the eyes of everyone in the room.

Although she still struggles to gain complete control of her left side, the progress is immeasurable. She will continue to strengthen her muscles through leg weights and weekly physical therapy. The therapist and instructors at Jelly's current school are so impressed with how far she has come that they are beginning to set long-term goals, including involvement in independent living skills programs. This ideology has filtered down to Jelly as well; every morning, as she walks into school, she reminds her mother that one day she will graduate from Harris Stowe College, which is next door to the school she attends today.