Community unites to help accident victim
6-year-old girl now is partially paralyzed
By: Brittany Jackson, Staff Writer
Issue date: 6/12/08 Section: University
In response to an April 10 car accident that left a six-year-old resident with brain and spinal damage, the town of Hillsborough has come together to raise money for the victim's family's needs.
Khari Clark-Hester was riding in the back seat on the passenger side of her mother's car when a truck struck their vehicle as it turned into the family's driveway. Khari is now paralyzed from the waist down.
But her grandparents said she doesn't view her injuries as a setback.
"It hasn't gotten her down," said Sucovis Hester, Khari's grandmother. "She's in good spirits. She's just a happy, cheerful, friendly little girl."
Khari spent five weeks at UNC Hospitals before moving to Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, where she will stay until June 16, when she will move in with her grandparents in Hillsborough.
The Hesters have gone through training to prepare for caring for Khari once she arrives home. They said treatment will include the same rehabilitation she currently is undergoing at the children's hospital, along with daily tasks of catheterizing and medicating her.
"She'll learn to do most of this stuff herself," Sucovis Hester said. "She's still going to be an independent Khari and want to do everything herself."
Ricky Clark, a coworker of Khari's grandfather, Malcolm Hester, has known Khari since she was born.
"She's always been Malcolm's right hand," Clark said. "She loves the outdoors. If he was going fishing or if he was coaching on the field, that's right where she was."
Building a wheelchair ramp, paying medical bills and obtaining a medical car seat are some of the immediate needs the Hesters face.
Coworkers of Malcolm Hester, who is the Water Plant Operator 2 for the town of Hillsborough, took initiative to plan fundraisers just a couple of weeks after Khari's accident. Clark said he and coworkers started out by just giving cards with donations.
"But when we found out how severe the accident was, we knew we needed to do something bigger to help them out," he said.
Clark and a few others took on the task of organizing a benefit golf tournament at Cedar Grove Golf Course set for June 14.
"I'm so thankful that we live in a community that would do this for us," Sucovis Hester said. "The response from the public has been amazing."
But amid all of the support for the Hesters, Khari remains the primary focus.
"There's still a 10 percent chance she could walk again, so we will never give up hope," Malcolm Hester said.
Her family has seen her make great progress in just more than two months, Sucovis Hester said.
"She's come a long way from where she started, and knowing Khari, she's going to keep on."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
Khari Clark-Hester was riding in the back seat on the passenger side of her mother's car when a truck struck their vehicle as it turned into the family's driveway. Khari is now paralyzed from the waist down.
But her grandparents said she doesn't view her injuries as a setback.
"It hasn't gotten her down," said Sucovis Hester, Khari's grandmother. "She's in good spirits. She's just a happy, cheerful, friendly little girl."
Khari spent five weeks at UNC Hospitals before moving to Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, where she will stay until June 16, when she will move in with her grandparents in Hillsborough.
The Hesters have gone through training to prepare for caring for Khari once she arrives home. They said treatment will include the same rehabilitation she currently is undergoing at the children's hospital, along with daily tasks of catheterizing and medicating her.
"She'll learn to do most of this stuff herself," Sucovis Hester said. "She's still going to be an independent Khari and want to do everything herself."
Ricky Clark, a coworker of Khari's grandfather, Malcolm Hester, has known Khari since she was born.
"She's always been Malcolm's right hand," Clark said. "She loves the outdoors. If he was going fishing or if he was coaching on the field, that's right where she was."
Building a wheelchair ramp, paying medical bills and obtaining a medical car seat are some of the immediate needs the Hesters face.
Coworkers of Malcolm Hester, who is the Water Plant Operator 2 for the town of Hillsborough, took initiative to plan fundraisers just a couple of weeks after Khari's accident. Clark said he and coworkers started out by just giving cards with donations.
"But when we found out how severe the accident was, we knew we needed to do something bigger to help them out," he said.
Clark and a few others took on the task of organizing a benefit golf tournament at Cedar Grove Golf Course set for June 14.
"I'm so thankful that we live in a community that would do this for us," Sucovis Hester said. "The response from the public has been amazing."
But amid all of the support for the Hesters, Khari remains the primary focus.
"There's still a 10 percent chance she could walk again, so we will never give up hope," Malcolm Hester said.
Her family has seen her make great progress in just more than two months, Sucovis Hester said.
"She's come a long way from where she started, and knowing Khari, she's going to keep on."
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
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