Making a difference one step at a time
Shola McCarthy decided long ago that he wanted to be a strong community supporter. Creating better ways for us all to enjoy greater opportunities by just knowing. "Knowledge is power, so if you build knowledge it's up to you to act on what you know. Your strategy or attack on what you know is what's going to separate you from the haves and the haves not. But if you never even given the chance to receive that knowledge. Then the game was a step-up from the beginning. You will always be a have not." he says. His Son Tobechi was born with a genetic disorder called trisomy 21. Trisomy 21 is commonly known as down syndrome. With his wife Nancy already working with special needs adults Shola begins to think back and see how God's plan came together.
In October 2009 His wife was given a job opportunity as a director for Our Hearts Day Center in Lancaster, Texas. A facility for special needs adults dealing with autism, mental retardation, and down syndrome. A field of business she have never worked in before just 2 years before the birth of Tobechi McCarthy. They relocated to the Desoto area and spent time seeking out church home. They found what they was looking for with Community Missionary Baptist Church of Desoto. The church pastor, Micheal Epps had 3 children and 1 of them was born with special needs."We found that out just 2 months before Tobechi was born.", he said. After having difficulty with a daycare that was suppose to take care of his 3 year old son Chinedu. The McCarthy family decided not to take anymore chances and decided to move Chinedu to another daycare in Cedar Hill. At Child Care Network ran by Tammy Patterson showed them there was no better place in that area. After enrolling Chinedu later they had discovered that the director Tammy Patterson also had a special needs son. Then Tobechi was born, "We had no idea that he was going to be with special needs." he said, This motivated him to make a difference because he knew that God was preparing him for greatness. " With my wife's work, Pastor Epps son, The Director of Child Care Network son, and then my son. It all have to mean something. God had to put these people in my life for a reason." he says.
September 12, 2011 he took a chance and began his walk across America for special needs children. With this walk he had hope to bring awareness to the growing number of special needs children, the lack of child care for special need children and to help fund new and better innovative ways to improve their quality of life. His goal is to build a Raising Tobechi Care Center to help his son and children like him.
