JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – At just 18 years old, Kian Hisaw from Trumann High School exhibits a need for speed in his wheelchair, zipping through the hallways faster than most can walk.
His friend, Kai Davis, admires Kian’s speed, stating, “He can outrun all of us. He inspires all of us to keep going on.”
Despite facing challenges daily, Kian is surrounded by friends who see beyond his disability.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy shortly after birth, Kian’s leg muscles were impacted, presenting ongoing obstacles.
Kian’s journey is nothing short of miraculous. Born prematurely at 27 weeks, he faced immediate health struggles.
Niena Hisaw, Kian’s mother, vividly recalls the distressing moments after his birth, sharing, “I heard one loud cry and they ran out of the room with him. They flew him to Little Rock.”
Kian’s premature arrival led to a heart condition and a fragile state where his mother couldn’t even hold him.
Describing the delicate situation, Niena explains, “Imagine a 1,000 pins poking him at one time. His nerves were so close because he was so little.”
Following necessary surgery, Kian’s health remained precarious, with doctors expressing concerns about his dropping blood pressure.
In a poignant moment, nurses allowed Niena to hold her baby, which remarkably stabilized his condition. Niena recounts, “One tear fell from my face and hit his. His blood pressure started going up and the nurse said, ‘That’s all he needed was his Momma.’”
Living with spastic cerebral palsy, Kian faced challenges of muscle tightness and joint stiffness, requiring further surgical intervention.
Despite the surgeries, Kian still experiences significant pain and is unable to walk without difficulty.
Embracing his strength and independence, Kian, the UCP SuperStar of the year, asserts, “I am strong. I am an independent person. I can depend on myself to move further in life.”
United Cerebral Palsy played a crucial role by installing hand controls in Kian’s car, enabling him to drive to school independently.
Kian’s resilience and determination leave a lasting impact on his friends and family. His friend Jay Pippinger affirms, “He doesn’t let nothing stop him. He does everything we do.”
Expressing her deep emotions, Niena tearfully acknowledges, “There are no words that can explain what he means to me.”
Despite the challenges, Kian remains positive, reflecting, “It would be amazing to walk. But, I don’t regret anything. I don’t regret it all because it has molded me into the person that I am today.”
As part of his role as UCP SuperStar, Kian promotes this year’s fundraising mail-a-thon event. Donations can be sent to:
UCP P.O. Box 4081 Jonesboro, AR 72403 or made online at UCP Website.
All contributions support local individuals with cerebral palsy in Region 8.
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