OU Pre-Med Student Fulfills Dreams By Teaming Up With Pros For Africa

A pre-med student at OU is leaving her life in Oklahoma to help people half a world away. She's teaming up with the Oklahoma-based relief organization Pros For Africa.

Thursday, November 4th 2010, 5:21 pm

By: News 9


Jennifer Pierce, News 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- A pre-med student at OU is leaving her life in Oklahoma to help people half a world away. She's teaming up with the Oklahoma-based relief organization Pros For Africa.

She can't practice medicine yet, but being a pre-med student is just a small part of what makes Cacyi Parker who she is; a small town girl with big dreams.

"She never thought small...Cayci is always one with big visions," said her mother Susan Bedwell.

Cacyi Parker left her hometown, to attend the University of Oklahoma. Not content with just a bachelor's degree, she applied for medical school.

"I know that women's health is a career that I will be interested in and will keep me passionate about what I'm doing for the rest of my life," Parker said.

That fire was lit during a trip to South Africa. She spent five months there doing HIV research. All the while another force in her life was leading her to another life changing trip.

"I have always been proud of her. She is a very important part of my life," said Parker's grandmother Ann Karns.

Parker lived with her grandmother during her high school years in Watonga. Her grandmother's influence didn't stop there, Karns told the pre-med student about Pros For Africa. She was watching News 9's and our sister station in Tulsa's coverage of the Pros For Africa trip in Uganda.

"It's just a perfect fit for her...to me it was," said Karns.

"I was like ‘Oh my goodness...they have the same goals and vision I have," said Parker. "I'm so excited that it's got roots in Oklahoma."

Parker knew it was a match when she met Sister Rosemary at a Pros For Africa fundraiser in Oklahoma City. Sister Rosemary runs the women's tailoring school in Gulu, Uganda. Parker will teach health classes at the school and help co-ordinate the Pros For Africa March 2011 trip.

Uganda is a country ravaged by violence, but the OU student tries not to think about the safety risks too much and puts her life in the hands of a higher power.

Faith has always played a big role in Parker's life and it's the time that she has spent at the First Baptist Church of Okeene that helped her make the decision to go to Africa

"It has been an amazing journey to see how that is falling into place for her," said youth Pastor Phillip Wilson.

"And I am so grateful. I know God has just kind of laid the path for me to do this," Parker said.

Cayci Parker will travel to Uganda in January. On her trip she will also do honors research for school.

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