Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
November 28, 2001
Catholic student's hero: disabled grandma
8th-grader wins grand prize for pro-life essay
The following submission to the Defense of Life Essay/Poster Contest sponsored by St. Therese Parish in Aurora received the Grand Prize Award, which was presented by the pastor, Father Bert Chilson, Nov. 11.
By Felicity Callow
Hero. What does this word really mean? What is a hero? Have you ever asked a teenager who their hero is? They would reply Britney Spears or Big Bird, but instead my grandma is my hero.
My grandma is a normal lady with a normal life. Born in Montana in 1923, she was raised on a farm. She got married in 1952 and had 14 children: four were miscarriages, two died at birth, eight are still living. She is now 78 and still very active in our church. She sounds perfectly normal, right? She is, except for her handicap.
She might not sound like someone who can do a lot. But that is not totally true. My grandma wakes up every day and takes care of what is needed. If it is laundry, she will go up and down 18 stairs until it is all done.
My grandma has lived her life with rickets, and now that she is older has deterioration in her knees. When she was little, she grew up being teased because her legs were not perfect. At one point she was average height for a woman, but eventually she became smaller.
I am now taller than she is. Her legs hurt every single day, and yet she goes on with life.
She was the first to hold me when I was born. She watched me as a little girl and has been in the church parking lot every day after school for nine years. When we go to stores she has to use a wheelchair. People stare and sometimes laugh, but I do not get embarrassed because we love her no matter how she looks. To me she is beautiful inside and out.
So who will defend the handicapped? I will! Thanks for helping to raise me. I love you, Nano!
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