Mother turns tragedy into purpose

Beacon Journal | Jewell Cardwell

At the darkest point in her life, Roschelle Ogbuji found a way to bring light into the lives of two other families — families she doesn’t know; families she may never know.

What she does know for sure is that it was the right thing to do.

Her spiritual journey is such a compelling one that doctors, nurses and other staff at Akron Children’s Hospital, its Burn Unit in particular, flocked to a reception Tuesday morning for the woman and the mother they came to know four years ago.

They were curious and hard pressed to believe that this woman who lost so much — the night of Dec. 1, 2007, — is still standing.

An electrical fire — which destroyed her home in Shaker Heights — claimed the lives of her three daughters. Six-year-old Imose and 2-year-old Chika died in the fire. Fourteen-month-old Anya, who was transported to the hospital’s Burn Unit, lingered three days on life support.

The family’s pain was palpable.
Read more: http://www.ohio.com/news/local/mother-turns-tragedy-into-purpose-1.250237