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liiip mm V 2A NEWS/tE^e Ciiatlotte Tuesday, December 23, 2003 Chrisimas special season for moiher, new daughter Continued from page 1A She earned a full scholarship to Wake Forest University where she obtained bache lor’s and master’s degrees in accounting with honors. She is a Certified Public Accountant and owns her own home and brand new car. She’s also happy and single. . So besides living the American dream, what more could ChappeU want? Well for one, she’s always wanted to skydive. Accomplished. Her skydiving certificate is proudly displayed on her refrigerator. That’s not all you’ll find on her refrigerator. On a sheet of paper with perfect legible handwriting reads, “Latondra Anne Chappell.” The mother feels blessed for what the daughter has bought to her hfe. “I am so proud of that kid,” ChappeU said. “She has been through so much and she has not cracked.” Nikki hasn’t cracked either. Matter of fact, she’s been looking for a brother for Latondra. “I think everybody should adopt,” ChappeU says. “They are the kids that have edmost been just thrown away.” There is an increase in interest of adoptions during the holidays, said Ruth Amerson, director of Another Choice. Sometimes that interest turns into adop tions. “I think holidays remind folks that there are kids without famUies,” she said. For children who are awaiting adoptions, Christmas brings on a mix ture of emotions because these kids are not with their biological family, brothers and sisters. “Christmas is a painful reminder of their loss,” Amerson said. Chappell’s life plan consist ed of her adopting a chUd when she was 31. Latondra came four years earUer. It was spring 2002 and there was an Open House at Chappell’s church for adop tions. She attended thinking the whole process would take years anyway, but applied with an adoption agency and took a mandato ry parenting class. ChappeU knew adopting a chUd was a serious step and at that point she would have to take an honest inventoiy of herself She admits she could not handle caring for a severe physicaUy or mental ly handicapped chUd. She knew she wanted a Uttle girl between the ages of 4 and 8. Latondra’s was the first Malvo trial turns to defense By Sonja Barisic THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHESAPEAKE, Va. - The daughter of one sniper vic tim caUed Lee Boyd Malvo evil. Teachers and others who knew the convicted kUler when he was younger described him as bright, courteous, sweet and lonely. Now Malvo’s estranged father is expected to add his assessment Monday as the defense makes its last bid to persuade jurors who convict ed the 18-year-old of capital murder to spare his Ufe. “We hope you’ll see the value of that Ufe,” defense attorney Thomas Walsh told jurors Friday during his opening statement for the sentencing phase of Malvo’s trial, “That yoimg man has value.” Malvo was found guilty Thmsday of two counts of capital murder in the killing of FBI analyst Linda Franklin on Oct. 14, 2002, during a three-week series of sniper attacks in the Washington area that kUled Please see MALVO/8A profile that ChappeU saw. “She was the first kid I looked at and wanted,” Chappell said. But the process had its bumps. The adoption agency ChappeU was working with merged with a larger agency. In the process, the agency lost her paperwork and required her to take parenting classes again. ChappeU said felt defeated, fimstrated and on the verge of giving up. But that feeling of friistration did not last long. She contacted Another Choice For Black ChUdren to help her adopt Latondra. It was during this process that Chappell reviewed Latondra’s medical records that revealed Latondra was mentally handicapped. ChappeU didn’t buy it. On a Saturday morning, Latondra seeips very com fortable in her home setting with her mommy. She’s vmder the weather with a cold and fever, so she’s not as animated as usual. But Latondra is as normal as any other 5-year-old - talka tive, precocious and loveable. Latondra attends speech therapy and physical thera py, and she’s made strides toward normalcy. “I don’t want to people to look at her differently,” said ChappeU. ‘We can deal with this. It may take a couple of years, but we’d get through this.” Being a single parent is tough, but ChappeU has a network of support. Her neighbors, coworkers and famUy have aU chipped in to help. ChappeU’s 25-year-old brother Marcus is especiaUy instrumental in their Uves. “I think (Latondra) is love ly,” Marcus said. “She is my world and I’m so proud of her.” Marcus is also proud of her sister and impressed with her decision to accept Latondra in her Ufe. It’s this kind of support that makes it easier for ChappeU. “It has changed my Ufe a lot. God had a plan,” she said. If you are interested 'in adopting a child, contact Another Choice for Black ChUdren Inc at (704) 394- 1124. The Top Names in Athletic Footwear for the famiiy Men's & Ladies' Kids' Ji4»$]ow These prices will beat all other stores' sale prices - period. -( Just Taken! The Biggest Markdowns of the Season on Sweaters & Outerwear for the Entire Family. StartsTomorrow! /t1al4halls. BRAND NAMES FOR LESS™
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