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here’ase Johnson’s eight-year-old son Malachi Roberts shows those around him the beauty found within a pure heart. “Malachi wants to make other kids happy. The foundation makes that happen,” There’ase said of her son and the Marvelous Kids Foundation. The selflessness and courage Malachi exemplifies at his young age is simply remarkable. He has become a real hero in the fight against childhood epilepsy. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which brain cells send abnormal signals and cause seizures. In 2016, the Marvelous Kids Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in honor of Malachi, who was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2015 when he was two years old. The foundation’s mission is to bring awareness to childhood epilepsy in local communities, including Chatham, Effingham and Bryan Counties.
Malachi Roberts and the Marvelous Kids Foundation Story by Katrice Williams
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www.PoolerMagazine.com | January/February 2022
In the Midst of Adversity One night, as There’ase prepared her then two-year-old toddler for bed, he became completely motionless and unresponsive in her arms; he also began to convulse and was unable to talk. “It was a huge and terrifying experience. I didn’t know what was going on or if he would be okay.” There’ase and her mom Cheryl Johnson called 911. Over time, Malachi weathered extensive medical tests and procedures as the he endured similar episodes on a relatively consistent basis. There’ase and her family remained hopeful to find answers. Malachi was referred to Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta, where he was finally diagnosed with epilepsy, and more specifically, frontal lobe seizure disorder, named for a type of seizure that stems from the front of the brain. Malachi was also diagnosed with a second type of epileptic seizure, one which has yet to be medically named. There’ase and her family have learned more about the condition since that first frightening episode, striving to build and maintain a strong and loving support system for Malachi. “I’m learning how to be of assistance to him when he’s going through the seizures and after he’s had them. I’m learning to cope with it better. He encourages me, saying, ‘It’s okay. I’m fine.’” There’ase recalls Malachi once saying, “One day, I’m going to make a medicine so that all the kids with epilepsy won’t have seizures anymore, and we will all be fine.”
