Motherhood certainly has its highs and lows, but the responsibility of taking care of a disabled child is something some have shied away from and/or gone through great lengths to avoid. However, Libra Hicks, the founder and president of Our Children’s Story, a 501c3 organization, has shouldered this responsibility and allowed it to push her towards her purpose.
Libra’s oldest son, Anthony “Moo†Jr., was diagnosed with cerebral palsy due to complications during his birth thirteen years ago, and her younger son Lyric JaDore has battled with epilepsy since 2017. Therefore, she knows first hand the many struggles special needs children and families face.
“There was a point in time when he was first born, I didn’t have the money needed to take care of him and applying for government assistance is a real headache. It’s almost like a hit or miss. If you don’t know the right advocate, you will almost certainly be denied, and you will have to go through an appeal and all types of stuff, and it’s going to be some emotional drainage. There are times I questioned my ability to take care of him, and I questioned whether or not I should put him up for adoption or give him to a family. I didn’t have the income to take care of him,†Libra says.
“People really think that you can go out here and apply for these resources and get them with no problem, and unfortunately that’s not how Georgia works. I don’t know about other states, but Georgia doesn’t operate like that. There have been times when I have been denied SSI, and it took me three years, to get close to getting. Then once I got it, I could only work a certain amount of hours. I couldn’t make a certain amount of money, because if I did, he would lose his benefits. So we were in poverty for a very long time.â€
In spite of her experiences, Libra wishes to breathe life into the special needs community. This is why for the past two years, the College Park native has hosted the Purple and Green Gala. With the monies raised, Our Children’s Story is able to assist other families with disabled children in need, host more inclusive events like their Inclusion Fashion Show and Special Mommy Makeover, and to also recognize caretakers and others who are helping to bring about change in the special needs community.Â
The Third Annual Purple and Green Gala will take place tomorrow (September 28, 2019) at 4 pm EST at GNETS. This year’s sponsors are YB Limited and Unique Creations and Events, and Guyanese born singer and songwriter Ngina Fayola will also be performing. Click here to purchase your tickets or donate.
You can also watch live via our social media as we will be in attendance as well. 😉
