Apr 10, 2009 1:32 am US/Eastern
Karen Jones
COCONUT CREEK (CBS4) ―
-
-
Karen Jones, a contestant in the CBS4 Subway Get Fit Challenge.
CBS
A single mother has a tough job, as she works to pay the bills, care for the kids, and try to have some 'me' time along the way. The job gets more complicated when the mom is caring for a child with a disability.
Welcome to the world of Karen Jones. She and her son David are a team, but David has it a bit tougher than most kids. He's disabled, and limited to a wheelchair. His mother provides for most of her care, and while Davis is mainstreamed, which means he goes to a regular school, his special needs keep Karen busy.
Sometimes, that means she too bus to take care of her weight and fitness.
"I put on weight over the past 13 years that I have taken care of my disabled son," Karen wrote in her entry essay.
But now, she says, "He is doing better in life, and becoming more and more independent of me."
She says the time has come for her to take advantage of that new independence and take a look at herself.
"I need to focus on my weight, so that I can continue to be in good health and be there to see his future," she says of her need to get healthy not only for herself but for David, who will always need special care.
When Karen was selected as a finalists, she brought her son to the interview with the challenge judges. Her face glowed as she talked about Davis, and he watched as his mom answered questions with cameras rolling and lights blazing.
At one point, a judge turned to David and asked him directly, "Would you like your mom to have this opportunity?" David's disability does not allow him to speak clearly, but he's a good student and he understands just fine. David shared a grin that stretched from ear-to-ear. He agrees, it's time Mom gets a little attention.
The Subway Get Fit Challenge is not easy; intensive exercise almost every day of the week, nutritional guidelines, and traveling from her home in Coconut Creek to Doral weekly for the required weigh-ins will put a strain on her. She says she can work out the care issues and the travel issues because she needs this life-changing opportunity.
She needs it for herself, and also for her son.
"I hope all my hard work and sacrifice will allow him to become a contributing member of society," she said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
