Meet the Maddox Family

This Oklahoma City family of five has its own share of challenges. Mom and dad both have demanding, full-time jobs. They have two rambunctious, adorable young boys. And their first-born, 13-year-old SaNiyah, has cerebral palsy. She’s confined to a wheelchair and depends on others for everything.

Every morning, SaNiyah’s mother’s routine begins before sunrise – because she’s responsible for getting three children ready. There’s breakfast, bathing, medications, clothes, toothbrushing, some cartoons and everything else that comes with young children. And often, SaNiyah gets sick in the midst of the morning routine. At best, this means ruining the clothes her mother has dressed her in – and starting over on that part of the morning routine. At worst, it could mean a trip to the hospital. Luckily, the Maddoxes are patient, friendly, loving people – who have surrounded themselves with a great support network.

SaNiyah spends her days at Special Care – where her mother also works, and where she gets an incredible level of attention and love from staff and teachers. Those same people are patient and understanding when Tiffany has to miss work because SaNiyah has become ill.

On top of everything else, the Maddoxes also foster an infant who was in need of a good home. And you’d be hard pressed to find a better one.

That makes four kids – two young boys, a teen with cerebral palsy and a baby who isn’t even their own. It’s much more than most of us could handle.

And here’s the big surprise: the Maddoxes don’t just receive United Way help – in the form of Special Care. They believe in the power of change, so they also set aside their hard-earned money and give to the United Way.

Can you?

“I don’t know where I would be or what I would be without this place because they’re such a huge part of my life.”

Tiffany Maddox