By Tangerine Clarke
Andrea Dalzell, the daughter
of Guyanese-born parents Trevor
and Sharon Dalzell, and the
only wheelchair-bound frontline
registered nurse, was recently,
awarded a $1million gift from
Good Morning America (GMA).
The young lady was in awe at
the kind gesture, during a recent
episode of Tell T.J. segment,
which asks viewers to highlight
someone “whose incredible story,
kindness, or generosity” deserves
the spotlight.
T.J. Holmes surprised Andrea,
against a backdrop that said, We
Love You Andrea Dalzell, and
presented the generous gift that
will go towards programs to help
others, who are physically challenged.
The gift will go a long way,
towards her disability advocacy
work, said Andrea, during the
live TV show.
The Brooklyn native, who
was diagnosed at the age of five
with transverse myelitis, a neurological
disorder that causes
inflammation of the spinal cord
and affects her ability to walk-
through determination and hard
work pursued a career in medicine,
and later, became the only
city worker in a wheelchair to
fight the Coronavirus.
“At five years old, the “bouncy”
and “vivacious” Andrea was diagnosed
You Can Lose 20-30lbs in 45 Days!!
Caribbean L 8 ife, Sept. 25-Oct. 1, 2020
with transverse myelitis, a
neurological disorder that causes
inflammation of the spinal
cord and affects her ability to
walk, said her mother,” Sharon
Dalzell.
The young lady who exudes
confidence and grace, despite
being differently-abled, said “I
want to start a whole program
for people with disabilities to help
them get into health care. They
should be given a chance.”
According to the broadcast, her
parents said at first they thought
the disorder was a “minor mishap”
but then were devastated
to learn that their oldest child
would be wheelchair-bound.
“I think I went completely
numb. I blamed myself. I thought
I didn’t do something right,” said
Sharon Dalzell, Andrea’s mother.
“I thought there was something
I could have done different that
could have allowed her to walk.”
“I stood outside the door and,
I promised myself I wouldn’t do
this, but I’ve never allowed her
to see me cry. That was the most
important thing for me. I became
the child and she became the
mother,” Sharon Dalzell said.
Andrea, who excelled in life,
graduating with honors receiving
many awards along the way,
for her advocacy work and leadership,
including the Cindy Loo
Disability Rights Advocate Award
in 2015, said, “people with disabilities
aren’t living a death sentence,
they’re living life.”
Her commitment to succeed
brought her to a career as a registered
nurse in 2018, when she
earned her bachelor’s degree.
This brave young woman is
full of life, confidence, and has
the will to give back, never giving
up during the deadly Coronavirus
pandemic, instead, taking
charge to become one of the
most invaluable frontline workers
.T
here are no limitations on
her life, as she continues to press
on as a nurse and department
head for a local school, according
to the ABC report.
“She’s not only extraordinarily
The Dalzell family, father, Trevor, mother Sharon and siblings
professional and smart and good
at what she does, but also very
approachable and the kids absolutely
love her,” said Kim Busi,
founder and head of The Quad
Preparatory School, a K-12 college
preparatory school in New
York that serves neurodiverse
twice-exceptional students —
and where Andrea Dazell serves
as its school nurse..
The inspiring young lady
who is the city’s only RN, in a
wheelchair is working to make
sure others like her, full-fill their
dreams, in medicine.
She believes the health care
industry needs to help more
Dalzell Family
workers who are physically challenged,
in order for them to help
patients in similar situations.
Her mother explained that
patients with disabilities face
obstacles when receiving care,
adding.
“You go into a doctor’s office,
you can’t get up on the table.
Many times, I had to lift her,”
she said.
Andrea said wants to give back
to people. “So many people were
put into my life, that if I can give
just a little bit of that back, then
I’ve done everything that I’m
supposed to do in the world,” she
shared.
Andrea Dalzell, only city wheelchair
frontline hero awarded $1 million
Free Consultation-
GET STARTED TODAY!!!
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Inquire within now!
917.444.3043
B Q
1316 Kings Highway, Brooklyn, NY
B7
www.EliteWeightLossNY.com B82
BEST MEDICAL
WEIGHT LOSS
/www.EliteWeightLossNY.com
