My Best Friend Niki

My Best Friend Niki

Niki and I became instant friends six years ago. She has Cerebral Palsy, since birth. Niki was born in Philadelphia, 43 years ago. She is a beautiful black woman who has achieved many things in her life despite her disability. She has many piercing’s and tattoos. She lives with her nineteen-year-old son in a three-bedroom apartment. Niki has attendants, who come in and help her with things like cooking, shopping, laundry, house cleaning, showering, getting dressed, and eating.

Niki walks on her knees at home and uses a manual or electric wheelchair, (affectionately named “The Beast”), when she goes out. She went to college and earned a degree in business and owns two businesses.

We traveled to Sacramento and participated in the writing of SB1270, (Senate Bill 1270, for the rights of the disabled), in 2007 and 2008. We have given speeches to many different people regarding self-employment for people with disabilities. In January of 2008, we started a community website for disabled people that is similar to “MYSPACE” called www.able2beme.com .

Niki and I have traveled many places together, both for business and pleasure. We took a trip to Philadelphia, Penn., where Niki was born, for a week in 2007. While we were there she met her biological father and his family for the first time. She stayed with relatives and we met with the web designers of our web site. We had a great time and we are going back in 2010 for her family reunion.

Niki and her son Brandon have traveled to Oregon with me to visit my parents. We went camping with my family in Oregon one summer. We took a trip to New Mexico to visit a good friend of Niki’s that moved there. We enjoy traveling to my hometown of Redding, Ca. to visit my sister and brother-in-law. On those trips we always go to the casinos and gamble (hopefully win!!)


We like to listen to music and dance and go out to clubs and events. Everyone in my family loves Niki and she is very close to my five grandchildren, my children and my parents, (she and her son are part of the family!). Being around Niki has been wonderful for my grandchildren. They don’t see her disability and are openly comfortable around anyone in a wheelchair or with a disability. Seeing the way they see no difference in people makes me wonder why our community is not more forthright in bringing people with disabilities into our schools, to help to educate our young against discriminating or feeling uncomfortable around people with disabilities. Even my small grandchildren are eager to help feed Niki, sit and play with her, talk to her and care for her.
My life is so blessed to have her as my good friend. I thank God every day for opening my life to such a special friend… I love you Niki!!