Morgan Malkovich, a fourteen year old young woman from Kula, was born with Klippel Tranauny Syndrome, which only allows limited use of her legs. Even so, she has always had a positive outlook on life and has been very thoughtful in helping others. An example of this is her being the top person in getting pledges for the 2004 Maui Hotel Association Charity Walk, and doing the walk in her wheelchair.
Morgan had been home schooled by her mother Laurna until time for high school. Morgan’s dream was to attend the highly acclaimed Seabury Hall and, always thinking positive, applied to the school and was accepted. However, it became apparent that she wouldn’t be able to navigate the steep hills at the campus with her wheelchair.
TheSchrinersHospitalhad recently given Morgan a new regular wheelchair so, as a rule, she wouldn’t qualify for a new chair from them for two years. Therefore, in February of 2007 Cathy Paxton-Haines, a mutual friend and fellow Rotarian, approached me to raise money for an electric wheelchair for Morgan so she could attend Seabury Hall.
In one week fifteen Rotarians and three of their friends chipped in and bought Morgan a refurbished electrical powered wheel chair. With her new personal freedom and ability to navigate the Seabury campus Morgan started school with her self esteem fully in tact and was a role model for the power of positive thinking. Not only was she received by her peers as one of them, she was voted in as Freshman Class President. Not bad for someone attending school for the first time. This speaks very highly of Morgan’s mother, as well as the very able person Morgan has become. Somehow the term “dis” just doesn’t apply to “abled” when it comes to this young woman.
Then in November, against all odds, the Schriners came trough with a brand new power wheelchair for Morgan. This was shocking good news. Now she had two power wheelchairs. An embracement of riches? Be careful what you wish for.
Being the person she is Morgan decided she should find a new home for her refurbished wheelchair, thereby helping improve someone else’s life as had been done for her. This is the spirit of “Paying it Forward.” Rather than just “Paying Back” the people who helped her she “Paid it Forward”, spreading the spirit of giving and helping others. As we are gifted so shall we gift. In this spirit Morgan called me, saying she wanted to find a person in need to which she could donate her extra power wheel chair.
A few days later there was a letter to the editor in the Maui News from Deborah Converse, a special education teacher atMauiWaenaIntermediateSchoolin Kahului, with a big heart, positive attitude, and the ability to get things done. She was seeking help in getting a power chair for one of her students, Collin Kane, a very bright twelve year old boy with very limited physical abilities. She said of Collin, “He brightens everyone’s day with his positive attitude and smiling face. This student gives 100 percent to everything he does and never gives up when facing challenges.” Yet with the use of only one arm he couldn’t even maneuver himself in his wheel chair, and with his limited ability so speak he couldn’t communicate where he wished to go.
Collin sounded like a perfect match for Morgan to “Pay if Forward” with the gift of her power chair. I brought the letter to her attention and she was thrilled. Morgan and Lorna went to the school and met with Deborah Converse and Collin. It was very positive meeting, and the chair became a wonderful Christmas present for Collin. He now has his own power wheelchair, a new found freedom, and a smile bigger than ever.
On the day that Morgan, Laurna, and I got together at the school with Collin’s mother, Trina Urpanil, Deborah Converse, and Jamie Yap, the school principal, there was a fire drill. For the first time Collin was able to get to the designated area under his own power. It’s evident from the picture that this was a very special and positive experience for him, which made it so for the rest of us as well.
As we met Mr. Yap said of Morgan, “She’s Paying it Forward”, which was my exact thought. Morgan was giving Collin the gift of mobility, as was given to her. Collin, by being the appreciative conduit for her to open her heart in helping another person in need, helped her achieve her desire to pass her good fortune forward to another. Seeing the two of them together makes one focus on all the good they share in their abilities, rather than the “dis” word.
May Morgan and her new friend Collin continue to inspire us all to Pay It Forward and spread positive energy and good will. May we all do what we can with what we have for our fellow citizens on this planet we all call home.
