Gateway to independence
Habitat for Humanity home-repair program helps teen with cerebral palsy achieve self-sufficiency
Almar Flotildes
The Post and Courier
Rick Singletary (left), a volunteer from the James Island Zaxby’s, and Tripp Clayton, a Lowcountry Zaxby’s partner, install a new window for Eula Thompson’s house.
Almar Flotildes
The Post and Courier
Micah Greene, 17, checks his e-mail on his desktop computer. Micah, Eula Thompson's grandson, has cerebral palsy but is able to control the computer using a special device that lets his head movements control the mouse.
Almar Flotildes
The Post and Courier
Laurel Prichard, volunteer coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, talks with Thompson, one of the first recipients of Habitat's new home repair program. New windows and doors will be installed at her West Ashley home. Ramps leading outside will also be built and her back porch will be enclosed with screens.
Almar Flotildes
The Post and Courier
Dani Montgomery (left), a volunteer from the Azalea Square Zaxby's, removes glass from the aluminum siding as Phillip Atkins (center) strips the siding from another window. A team from several Zaxby's locations across the Lowcountry came to help out last week with Charleston Habitat's second home-repair project. Also pictured (from left) are Thompson, Prichard and Clayton.
Almar Flotildes
The Post and Courier
Phillip Atkins, a volunteer from the Sam Rittenberg Zaxby's, works from inside Eula Thompson's bedroom to remove an old window siding.
Micah Greene, a teenager with cerebral palsy, is bound mostly to his wheelchair. Since his hands and arms move uncontrollably, he can't do many things by himself. But just like a lot of teens, his innate desire for independence is there.
About a week into summer break after his first year in high school, his grandmother, Eula Thompson, pushed Micah, 17, to his desk and tried to help him navigate through the icons on his desktop computer, which was donated to him. But he complained to her that he wanted do it himself.
"Just like a teenager," Thompson said lovingly. "Wants to be more independent."
Though it takes him a bit longer than most people, Micah can check his e-mail, advance to new levels on Internet games and do other things on the computer that Thompson, 68, said she can't even figure out.
When Thompson adopted her grandson in 1997 after his mother could no longer take care of him, she was always looking to make her West Ashley home more accessible for Micah. She just didn't have the resources to make it happen.
Thankfully, her prayers were answered by Habitat for Humanity.
Known mainly for constructing new homes for needy families, Charleston Habitat started a new program earlier this year called the Homeowner Home Repair Program where qualified families are able to get their homes repaired to become more livable and before they become too dilapidated.
The program has been a five-year concept geared toward older folks that has now come to fruition, according to Kayla Droney, Charleston Habitat's director of development.
"We saw that there was a huge need for these home repairs," Droney said.
So far, Thompson is the second beneficiary among three families who are scheduled to get the home-repair treatment from the program this year.
Charleston Habitat has almost completed renovating a North Charleston home belonging to a disabled woman. They replaced Andrea Gardner's asbestos siding, installed energy-efficient doors and windows, replaced her roof and made her bathroom handicap-accessible. (To read the story, go to: Self-confidence blooms in service to Habitat families.)
Habitat is doing much of the same to Thompson's home, where she's lived since 1995. By next month, volunteers will finish enclosing Thompson's back porch with screen covers and installing ramps that lead outside along with new doors and storm windows to help with energy costs.
Workers from several Zaxby's restaurants around the Lowcountry helped start the work last week.
Tripp Clayton, a Zaxby's partner, said they do service projects around the community each quarter.
"I think it's real important to support the community where we do business," Clayton said. "Projects like this give us an opportunity to get involved."
When the repairs are done, Micah can go onto the back porch, free of biting gnats, and play music, which Thompson said he loves to do outside. Micah, who plays baseball with the Charleston Miracle League and is in the Navy Junior ROTC at West Ashley High School, said he loves listening to the Jonas Brothers.
"You don't know what a blessing it was," Thompson said about finding out she was on the list to get her home remodeled.
Thompson, who said she lives to serve God and to serve others, retired in 2000 from her patient care assistant job at the Medical University of South Carolina. She's involved in several organizations, including a health ministry and the Advocacy Coalition for People with Disabilities.
She's lived on the biblical philosophy of helping others who can't help themselves, she said. Along with taking care of Micah, Thompson has helped five foster children who have gone on to be adopted by other families.
"I decided that I was not just going to retire," Thompson said. "I wanted to give back and make sure I was not living in vain."
Now that people are giving back to her, Thompson said she's still doing everything for Micah.
"I want to show him that he can get the best help and get the best love I can give him," Thompson said. "And help him become the best that God wants him to be."
For more information about the program, or if you want to help, contact Charleston Habitat for Humanity at 722-7145 or visit www.charlestonhabitat.org.
Reach Almar Flotildes at 937-5659 or aflotildes@postandcourier.com.
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