Hope Springs Up!
On the day Kekoa was born, doctors told his mother, Joy, that little Kekoa would never survive through the night. But Kekoa, whose name means “Courageous Warrior” in Hawaiian, not only fought through that first night; he lived an incredible life. Severely disabled and medically fragile due to his cerebral palsy, Kekoa finally said goodbye to his earthly family on his 26th birthday, when he went to live forever in his new body with Jesus.
Kekoa was never able to speak, but he communicated unending love through his big smile and loud giggles. He was never able to walk, but Kekoa’s mission was to teach others how to walk with the Lord, which he did daily through his life message: “Come as you are. We were all created with value. Jesus loves you and his plan is worth following.”
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10
Through the selfless and back-breaking work that was involved in caring for Kekoa – the lifting, turning and changing of over 70,000 diapers over the course of Kekoa’s 26 years – Joy discovered that there is more to this life than suffering. She now inspires us all to “focus on the good and true instead of on exhaustion and pain.” Joy’s constant encouragement is to “see beyond the norm into the eternal.”
Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability among children. 10,000 babies are born with cerebral palsy yearly. One in 323 children has some form of cerebral palsy; 41% with co-occurring epilepsy.
And that’s why Joy donated Kekoa’s wheelchair to Joni and Friends.
“If one person can come to know Christ because of Kekoa’s life in his wheelchair, then Kekoa’s life will continue to have an eternal impact for glory.”
Joy
But Kekoa’s chair won’t stay empty for long! Because our Joni and Friends team will refurbish it to like-new condition, and it will be given to another disabled child in desperate need. And Joy’s prayer is that “a new child will come to know how much God loves them” through Kekoa’s wheelchair. You see, through Wheels for the World, we’re not just distributing wheelchairs, we’re giving hope to the hopeless in the matchless name of Jesus.
“A wheelchair changes an entire family’s life,” said Joy. It shows the needy and disabled that “love is real, love is tangible, and love can roll.” And through the gift of a wheelchair, “hope springs up.” And Joy knows this truth first-hand. Her heart’s desire now is for others to embrace that truth, as well.
That’s Kekoa’s legacy, and it can be yours, too, as you partner with Joni and Friends. You can share hope through the donation of a wheelchair. March is Wheelchair Collection Month, and it’s the perfect time to get involved and let the Lord use you to transform another family’s life for eternity!
Donate a Wheelchair!
There are millions of people worldwide who are in desperate need of a wheelchair. Will you help us bring the gift of mobility and hope of Jesus to thousands of people impacted by disability?
