Like every other 12-year-old girl, Grace Ligon just wants to be independent.
“Her motto is ‘I’ll do it’” said her mom, Kathy Becker. “She wants to do everything herself, even if it means she has to try multiple times.”
However driven and determined, living with cerebral palsy means Grace faces physical obstacles to everyday tasks — and as a single mother, Kathy, too, has difficulties of her own.
The family’s Western Springs home isn’t completely accessible for Grace, and thus creates extra work for Kathy as she tries to help her daughter function through everyday tasks. On top of Grace and a full-time job, Kathy’s mother also lives in their home.
“When Grace gets home from school, she has to sit in front of the computer until I finish working because I have to help her move around our house,” Kathy said. “I help her to her room, the bathroom, anywhere she wants to go. I sit and make work phone calls while she’s in the bathtub. I can’t leave her in there alone.”
The situation leaves both Grace and Kathy frustrated — Grace wants to be able to move on her own and Kathy wants to see her daughter happy. But with her elderly mother, Grace’s medical costs and no equity left on her home, Kathy can’t afford to build her daughter a place where she could move freely.
Thus, the two decided they would apply to ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover. “We weren’t going to apply at first, but more and more I find it would be an answer to our prayers,” Kathy said.
Grace's wheelchair cannot currently move through their Western Springs home, Kathy Becker said. (Photo by Julie Melka)
After visiting the homes of some of Grace’s friends with disabilities, Kathy said she was blown away by the current accessibility options available.
“These modified homes have lowered counters, no barriers to wheelchairs, ramps, elevators, buttons to open doors — all the little things make a huge difference for them,” Kathy said. “We also currently have no place to keep Grace’s equipment, so her wheelchair and walker sit on our porch. It would be wonderful to have extra storage space.”
Veronica Burke, the parent of Grace’s childhood friend Madisyn, describes Grace as incredibly smart and self-motivated. “Grace deserves to live in a home where she is not challenged by everyday tasks,” Burke said. “She needs a safe, accessible and independent environment. Even if its just to be able and have her friends over — she should be able to go from room to room without problems.”
Burke and her daughter have been helping campaign for the Becker family’s shot at Extreme Home Makeover, and have even been going door to door to get votes.
“Kathy works so hard to be able to provide for Grace and her mother,” Burke said. “They are a very deserving family.”
Though life isn’t easy, Grace doesn’t let day-to-day challenges dampen her spirits. Rather, Grace makes friends everywhere she goes and is more outgoing than her mother, Kathy said.
“She loves the White Sox and now the team’s mascot, South Paw, knows her so well he always comes over to say hello when we’re at games,” Kathy said. “She’s best friends with the executive chef at Maggiano’s in Oak Brook. When we come into the restaurant, he always comes to sit with us and offers to make Grace whatever she wants, even if it’s not on the menu. One time he even made her a dish from Olive Garden.”
Grace and Kathy at a Chicago White Sox game this August. (Photo submitted by Kathy Becker)
Kelly O’Malley Shirkey, a friend Kathy met through Countryside’s Center for Independence, said Grace has come so far in her physical abilities and could stay home alone like a regular 12-year-old if the environment was safe.
“If given the correct type of house, Grace could be 100 percent independent,” Shirkey said. “But on a bad tone day in their current house, she can’t do much on her own without the fear of falling. Grace and Kathy are amazing together — this could change their lives.”
In order to recruit support for their cause, Grace’s godfather created a Web site so people could learn more about Grace and her dream to be comfortable in her own home.
“We’re currently working on a video and collecting nominations for our application to Extreme Home Makeover, and we’re hoping to apply the weekend of Nov. 6,” Kathy said.
Grace couldn’t be more excited to finally submit their application, Kathy said, and she too, hopes their dreams will be realized.
“Grace’s sense of humor and personality keeps life interesting for us,” Kathy said. “I hope this works out for the best.”
bdoyle@tribune.com
