http://hereismyhome.org/index.php/site/index/ en jbragsdale@bchfamily.org Copyright 2010 2010-07-07T19:24:27+00:00 http://www.hereismyhome.org/site/sedrick_bubbles_with_enthusiasm/ http://www.hereismyhome.org/site/sedrick_bubbles_with_enthusiasm/#When:18:24:27Z While Olympic athletes exhibit their prowess at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Sedrick stretches himself to gain greater mobility. The 23-year-old suffered traumatic brain injury as a boy. Years of neglect left his feet and right hand shriveled. “I was abused,” Sedrick recalls. “I was beaten and I was shaken. I was locked in my closet.” Memories like shadows linger. But the horror of these memories are couched with other memories of running as a very young child in the aisles of church, of clapping, and of singing. Today, it is his jubilant spirit that prevails in spite of Sedrick’s limitations. “When I get to heaven, I won’t need this wheelchair no more – oooeeee!” he declares. “I’ll have new legs, a new mind, new arms – yes, ma’am.” Sedrick is a resident at Baptist Children’s Homes’ Stegall Home in Marshville. The group home for developmentally disabled individuals has been a lifesaver for Sedrick. “I asked myself why my life wasn’t over,” he says. “Hallelujah! God wasn’t finished with me. He brought me back to life.” Since coming into BCH’s care, Sedrick is active. He has physical therapy every day. He works and attends classes at the local community college. “They are helping straighten me out,” Sedrick says, referring to his therapy. “I’m learning to use a walker.” Like the Winter Olympians, Sedrick is familiar with Olympic competition. He is a Special Olympics athlete. He competes in basketball, bowling and bocce ball. “This year, I’m going to be a cheerleader for the basketball team,” he says. “I’ve got to pump it up!” Sedrick’s spirit is contagious. He is a positive influence on other Stegall residents and staff members. “If you are feeling down, Sedrick senses it and reaches out to help you feel better. Many times he offers to pray for you,” Stegall Home administrator Michelle Jordan says. Sedrick confides that before he slides into his wheelchair each morning, he begins his day in prayer. There are times when Jordan walks by Sedrick’s room and he is out of his chair on the floor – he is on his knees praying. “God hears prayers,” he declares. “I pray, ‘God get me back on my feet’ and ‘I love you Lord Jesus.’” Sedrick loves to sing and to preach. “I can still be in this chair and be a preacher,” he says confidently. “I preach, you got to wind it up and get your house in order.” His favorite song is “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” Sedrick loves to listen to gospel music and breaks out in song spontaneously. “Oh my Lord, I be in my room jammin’,” he says. “I love to praise the Lord.” Sedrick credits his late-grandmother for teaching him about God. Sedrick’s memories of church are from times he spent with his grandmother. “My grandmother was always there,” he says. Stegall Home is Sedrick’s home. He loves his “brothers” and each staff member. “It’s special,” he says. “It’s special.” 2010-07-07T18:24:27+00:00 http://www.hereismyhome.org/site/angelas_hands_knit_loving_expressions/ http://www.hereismyhome.org/site/angelas_hands_knit_loving_expressions/#When:11:57:38Z Angela, 39, was uncertain, distrusting and rarely smiled when she moved into The Asheboro Home, a group home for adult women with developmental disabilities in Asheboro. Today, her demeanor has changed greatly, and the smiles increase by the minute. Sometimes even a giggling fit or two makes its way into the mix. “If I would have known about this place first, I would have come here first,” Angela says comparing The Asheboro Home to other homes. “I just didn’t feel as well cared for in other places. It’s more peaceful here.”Angela, 39, was uncertain, distrusting and rarely smiled when she moved into The Asheboro Home, a group home for adult women with developmental disabilities in Asheboro. Today, her demeanor has changed greatly, and the smiles increase by the minute. Sometimes even a giggling fit or two makes its way into the mix. “If I would have known about this place first, I would have come here first,” Angela says comparing The Asheboro Home to other homes. “I just didn’t feel as well cared for in other places. It’s more peaceful here.” Independence was not allowed as much, she says. “Here, we have a monthly meeting, and we are asked what we want to do and what we want to eat,” she said. “It just didn’t feel like home (at those other places).” Angela found her new home in February and has been thriving ever since. She volunteers three days a week at the thrift store of Christian United Outreach Center (CUOC), a Christian based nonprofit ministry that assists with food and financial aid to those in the community. Proceeds from the thrift store help with these needs. “I’ve made a lot of friends there,” Angela said of CUOC. “I like helping people.” When Angela is not in her day program, she is most likely knitting – a fact that is more remarkable when it is noted that Angela’s fingers were burnt off in a fire during her childhood. At the age of 13, Angela had a seizure and fell into a fire and suffered burns to her fingers, neck and left arm. Since moving to The Asheboro Home, Angela has completed five afghans and 16 scarves. At the age of 19, Angela took a class in Winston-Salem to master this art. “Some people can’t believe I can make things because of my hands being burnt,” she says. Just as the yarn is knitted together in Angela’s handiwork, her faith intertwines her life. She is an avid reader of the Bible and prays for needs of family and friends on a regular basis. She is involved in a ladies Bible study group and attends worship services at Cross Road Baptist Church. Nightly dinnertime devotions are conducted in the group home complete with a verse to learn for the week. “I like being able to go to church,” she said. “I feel very mature. I am happy to be in the adult Sunday School class. The ladies are a big help to me. I like doing devotions at dinner because it comes from the Bible and that’s what is important.” Angela started teaching knitting to residents at Cross Road Retirement Community, which is adjacent to The Asheboro Home. There is also a possibility of her selling some of her work at the newly opened general store at the retirement community. 2009-11-03T11:57:38+00:00 http://www.hereismyhome.org/site/rob_shares_happiness_with_everyone/ http://www.hereismyhome.org/site/rob_shares_happiness_with_everyone/#When:18:48:10Z By W. James Edminson The sun beams through the large glass windows at the Weaverville McDonald’s. A smile is on Rob’s face. He looks forward to this day every week. He is dressed in his work clothes and has his matching cap positioned just right. Rob clears a table and throws the trash away when a customer enters the door. “Good morning!” Rob cheerfully says . “Good morning!” the customer replies smiling at Rob . “My favorite part of my job is the customers – always the customers,” Rob asserts. “I make them feel happy.”Rob has worked at this McDonald’s for 15 years. Many in the community recognize him as they come and go from the well-known eatery . Rob is a “golden arches” fan and isn’t shy about sharing his choice for a great restaurant. “I recommend McDonald’s. Yes sir, I do.” Rob has lived at Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) Developmental Disabilities Ministry (DDM) home in Asheville since last October. Living at the Alverta Bolick Home has helped Rob achieve more independence. DDM provides developmentally disabled individuals opportunities to achieve goals, realize dreams, and enhance their roles in the community. The transition for Rob to living in the DDM home from living with his parents has been good, but not always easy. “Well, you know it is hard leaving home,” he confides. “I thought my mom would cry that first day, but she didn’t.” Rob visits family every week. They live in Weaverville and help him get to and from his job at McDonald’s. Every day, Rob and the other residents living at the Alverta Bolick Home work together keeping their residence looking pristine. They clean their rooms – “even dust the furniture.” They do chores in the kitchen, carry their clothes hampers to the laundry room and take out the trash. “It’s not too bad living with the other guys,” Rob reflects. “Not too bad at all.” He and his fellow residents go to movies and community activities like locally produced plays. And like most people, they enjoy eating out. “My favorite place, other than McDonald’s, is Cracker Barrel,” he says. Rob spends other days of the week at the local community college. He is enrolled in special classes for developmentally disabled people. One of his favorite subjects is history, and he can quickly describe many of the presidents, especially one of his favorites. “Abraham Lincoln was the president who was shot,” he says solemnly. This is one of the few times he is without his trademark smile. Being the “people person” that he is, Rob finds a lot of pleasure just being around the other students and the teachers at the college. “I like people,” he says nodding. “They make me feel happy.” People also enjoy Rob’s company. His awareness and appreciation of others is keen. It is rare to find him in his room alone or sitting watching television alone. “He jokes around a lot with the other guys and is lots of fun – he is quite a tease,” care giver Rosemary Kelly confides. “He is a very compassionate and gracious person.” 2009-08-05T18:48:10+00:00