Paralyzed girl's recovery inspires

The resiliency of children sometimes amazes those around them and Khari Clark-Hester is no exception.

On April 10 Khari6 of Hillsborough was paralyzed from the waist down when a truck struck her mother's car. While both her mother and little sister were mildly injured" Khari's spinal cord was severed.

""When you tickle the bottom of her feet" sometimes they'll move so it wasn't severed all the way" said Malcolm Hester, her grandfather.

Now, more than six months later, Khari's family is watching her thrive once again.

Khari is really cheerful and happy"" said Hester. I'm taking it worse than she's taking it.""

Back in school now" Khari's favorite subject is math. She's bound to a wheelchair but says nothing hurts.

Khari's grandparents with whom she lives most of the time have been instrumental in her recovery.

And the Hester family hasn't been alone in their efforts to expedite Khari's recovery. Co-workers and community members have been there every step of the way.

While Hester was in and out of work for seven weeks" he often switched shifts with co-worker Howard Hobson at the Hillsborough Water Treatment Facility in order to help care for his granddaughter's needs.

""I switched over seven days out of 14"" said Hobson. They're doing great now.""

Ricky Clark" Hester's coworker and longtime friend and others organized a local golf tournament held in June at Cedar Grove Golf Course.

The group sold about 3000 tickets raising more than $8"500 for Khari and her family.

Hester said the family didn't realize how expensive all the medical equipment would be.

""I'm truly surprised everyone would want to help out like this"" he said.

I'm truly grateful for it.""

Russell Bateman" Hester's supervisor" also helped by giving Hester time off work. Bateman's parents donated a 1998 Chevrolet Suburban to the family.

But Bateman said what the family really needed was moral support.

""All the guys down here did the same thing: to listen" to be there" basically being a friend.""

Khari's favorite activity is playing with her sister and" despite her wheelchair she loves playing outside with her friends.

She said she can't remember the day of the accident" but her ""mommy"" papa and grandma"" helped her through recovery.

This week in therapy"" she said she did ""up and down the hill"" — practiced going up and down ramps in her wheelchair to build arm muscles.

Physical therapy on Tuesdays is a new addition to Khari's weekly schedule"" but family members aren't giving up hope on the possibility of seeing her walk again.

""She gets in that wheelchair" and she's following her friends around if she's not leading them Hester said.

She's got some new braces now for her feet" so we're waiting to see.""

Khari has become a town inspiration to her community and continues to improve every day"" Hester's co-workers said.

""That little girl has got the best attitude out of any kid that has been through what she has been through"" Bateman said. I'm just amazed.""



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