Family of abused girl donates special needs equipment to child

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — There were hugs and tears of joy Thursday as a North Carolina family found out a 2-year-old suffering from a traumatic brain injury was finally getting help.

Ty has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is being raised by his grandmother, Julia Craig.

Union County toddler Kilah Davenport who was abused had a traumatic brain injury and needed special equipment to be mobile.

Now, Kilah's family gave Ty's family a gift that will help caring for him just a little easier, a special-needs chairs and a carseat.

PAST COVERAGE:

"People just don't understand how important these things are to a family with special needs, and they're not cheap. They are very expensive," Craig said.

She was also presented with more than $4,000 from the Kilah Davenport Foundation.

It was a moment both joyful and bittersweet for Kilah's grandmother, Leslie Davenport.

Joshua Houser, Kilah's stepfather, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder after inflicting child abuse that eventually led to Kilah's death.

"There was a lot of sobbing, crying, and emotions and opened those feelings again for us of when Kilah was hurt," Davenport said.

They quickly turned their focus back to helping others like Ty.

"This chair will be wonderful. I have one like it, but it's on loan, and it will be taken by January," Craig said. "I can just roll him around the house with me."

Davenport said this is just the beginning the first of many children they hope to touch in honor of her granddaughter.

"I know she's proud of us," Davenport said. "She's watching over us. She would want us to help anyone we possibly could."

LINK: Kilah Davenport Foundation

Houser was sentenced to up to 13 to 16 1/2 years in prison.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

WSOC