REGINA McGRADY
Boynton Beach

Gift cards for groceries would be huge blessing for family

Five days a week, Regina McGrady boards a transport van that takes her to Palm Beach Rehabilitation Center, where she works with other developmentally disabled adults.
She has been at the Lake Worth center, doing simple production tasks such as sealing envelopes or putting bar codes on various items, for 10 years. Her supervisors describe her as “friendly, diligent and always willing to help others.”
Regina, 38, lives with her mother and two nephews, Nate, 20, and Maurice, 18, in a tidy two-bedroom apartment in Boynton Beach. And although they’re not complaining, Regina’s family could use a little help.
Their home has the basics, but not a lot of space and not enough beds. Regina and her mom share a bedroom and a bed, and one of the nephews bunks on the living room sofa.
“Regina wakes up when I start to cough,” says Mary Wilson, Regina’s mother, who suffers from asthma, diabetes and feet that give her grief when she walks. “Regina goes back to sleep, though. She’s not one to complain.”
In fact, Regina is happy most all the time, her mother says. “She hardly ever gets mad.”
Mary says doctors diagnosed Regina with cerebral palsy when she was a toddler. “I had to get a speech therapist to help her talk when she was 2 or 3.”
No one would call Regina a chatterbox. She answers most questions with a simple “yeah” or “nah,” but, if pressed, she will reveal that her favorite lunch is a bologna sandwich, that she enjoys bowling and loves to dance — and any kind of music will do.
“We got her earphones with her radio but they don’t work anymore,” Mary said. “She’d like Santa to bring her a new radio, and we’d like her to have earphones so she doesn’t blast us all out with the music.”
Less fun than the radio, but more important, Regina needs extensive dental work. And it sure would be great for Regina and her mom to have twin beds. One of Regina’s nephews wants to go to college and needs a computer.
As Regina’s primary means of support, Mary does her best to give Regina some privacy and get her out to bowl, shop and to doctor’s appointments. But Mary has her own challenges. Walking can be tough for her and she would like a new walker, “the kind where you can sit down for a while when you get tired,” she said.
The only car in the family belongs to one of Mary’s grandsons (Regina’s nephew) and isn’t very reliable. Money for car repairs would be most welcome.
To Mary, though, gift cards to Winn-Dixie for groceries would be a huge blessing.
“If we got those, I’d jump up and shout and run down the road and dance,” Mary laughed.
And that would be something!

The McGrady family’s wishes

What she asked for: A radio with headphones. She also needs dental work. Also, gift cards for food, beds and clothing; money for car repairs; and a walker for Regina’s mother.

What she received: A party at Palm Beach Central High School given by teacher Bill La Fevers’ economics class. He is a former Special Olympics bowling coach for Regina. After reading about Regina in Season to Share, Palm Beach Central senior Savinee Ruaengtorsak organized her classmates to the tune of $350 cash, $150 in Winn-Dixie gift cards, an iPod Shuffle and other gifts in three days. With senior Danous Estenor in a Santa costume, Regina gleefully opened each gift in the school courtyard.

What she said: “I am so happy,” giggled Regina during her gift shower, which included blue jeans, earrings, socks, a necklace, sweater, hooded sweatshirt and more.

Nominated by: Palm Beach Habilitation Center Inc.
Address: 4522 S. Congress Ave., Lake Worth 33461
Phone: (561) 965-8500.
Its mission: To prepare men and women with disabilities to live and work to their greatest level of independence.