Charity Hope of Russellville is almost 4 years old. Her mother is planning a Minnie Mouse birthday party for Charity – a normal birthday theme for a little girl. But much of Charity Hope’s life is far from normal.

When Charity Hope was 3 months, she started having seizures. Lots of them. Mother Pamela Parrish said doctors have yet to figure out why.

“We have no reason. We have no diagnosis,” Parrish said. “The MRI only shows she has a little bit of brain matter that didn’t develop – which is not a diagnosis for why she can’t sit up, why she can’t walk. She’s completely confined to a wheelchair. She can’t crawl – nothing.”

Charity Hope, who doctors can only diagnose as having some form of epilepsy, is tube-fed and is on nearly a dozen medications. She seizes multiple times daily and is nonverbal. She requires round-the-clock care, so single mom Parrish doesn’t work. Their only income is Charity Hope’s Social Security disability.

“The hardest part is being a single mom and doing it by myself, and just wishing she could talk to me and tell me she loves me,” Parrish said.

With these challenges in mind, friend Jennifer Mitchell began a youcaring account for Charity Hope, with the aim of purchasing a wheelchair van for the family’s use. Charity Hope requires frequent visits for medical care at the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Epilepsy Monitoring Unit in Memphis, Tenn., – visits Parrish has suspended without funds for the trips or access to reliable transportation.

“After Pamela had Charity Hope, we all saw how many times they would have to rush Charity to the hospital and her stays in Memphis Children’s,” Mitchell said. “Even a little cold can turn into something huge for Charity. Pam takes care of that sweet baby day and night 24/7.”

Mitchell said her “heart really cried out to do something more when I was having a yard sale and Pam brought Charity Hope. I asked to hold her while Pam looked around.” That was when she realized Parrish was going to be needing help – “and soon. Sweet Charity is growing like all children do but is wheelchair confined.”
Mitchell had friends who recently completed a youcaring fundraiser for a similar purpose, and that gave her the push to start the account for Charity Hope.
“Griffin Mobility out of Hartselle converts vehicles so they are wheelchair-accessible and affordable. If we as a community come together, we can help this child safely get to her doctors’ appointments and hospital stays and have a better quality of life.” Mitchell said. “I hope all business owners, political pillars of the community, corporations, churches, friends and family can give to this cause.”

It is Mitchell’s hope that enough money will be donated – about $20,000 – to provide a used wheelchair-accessible van to make these visits easier.

Visit www.youcaring.com/pamela-parrish-667599 to view Charity Hope’s page and to donate.