BUTLER — A mustard seed sealed into a charm adorns 74-year-old Katherine Rapp's neck.

She explains that the charm — gifted to her by her father — is a token to a Biblical parable that teaches, “we can move mountains ....

“And I believe that. We can move mountains.”

The Butler woman didn't need to look far to prove her point, as she spoke Monday during a presentation in which she was the woman of honor. The Butler County branch of the non-profit organization Twilight Wish gifted Rapp a computer, corresponding equiptment and a desk so that the wheel-chair bound grandma may keep touch with the world from the comfort of her apartment.

In order to understand the importance of this wish, you need to know a little about Rapp. She was the daughter of a Butler doctor, Robert Hunt, and she grew up on West Pearl Street loving her hometown.

Later, she married Robert Rapp, and they raised their children in Meridian. Rapp's circle of friends grew further as she was an employee of the Butler County Prothonotary's Office and member of St. Mark's Church Evangelical Lutheran Church.

But things changed in March of 2013, when Rapp's husband died and problems with her legs were becoming cumbersome. She moved in with one of her sons, Tim. They were living in Ohio when Rapp developed MRSA and the battle for her life began.

Everyone in the family pitched in to keep Rapp as healthy as possible. But one Friday her doctor approached her and said she wouldn't live the night without an amputation.

Rapp's right leg was amputated below the knee and she now has a prosthesis. After the surgery, though, she said she started feeling better and more active.

And homesick.

She missed her friends and church in Butler. So in February she moved to Under Your Wing, an independent living facility run by the YWCA.

“I'm independent now,” said Rapp, who has hope of regaining her ability to walk after an upcoming surgery on her left knee.

But still Rapp yearned for a computer because in her time in Butler she'd learned how to keep touch with her son in Ohio and more family in Maryland through Facebook and other Internet sites.

“At my age everybody wants to check in on their grandchildren and great grandchildren,” she said, noting that with the computer the world can be made a smaller place ... hence, the moving of mountains.

In addition to the computer and desk, Rapp was gifted a new outfit and a bouquet of fresh flowers.

Friend Donna Blasko learned about the Twilight Wish program, which grants wishes to seniors that enriches their lives.

“She's just a special person,” Blasko said.

Locally, Twilight Wish has existed for four years. And during that time it has granted eight wishes.

“The goal now is 12 wishes in 12 months,” said Jean Bowen, director of the local program which is made up of 13 community volunteers.

The wish planned for December also is special, said group member Tricia Pritchard.

Twilight Wish is collecting comfort items and useful items, like candy bars, puzzle books and toilet paper to donate to area nursing homes. That way, Pritchard explained, a lot of people's lives will be enhanced and the group will get a chance to explain the nomination process to the facilities' residents.

To donate items: Drop off the unopened items at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 107 Sunnyview Circle; Family Bowlaway Fun Center, 540 Fairground Hill Road; Shelbourne Personal Care, 296 Dinnerbell Road; and Grace@Calvary Lutheran Church, 123 E. Diamond Street. The deadline is Nov. 30.

To nominate a person for a wish visit http://www.twilightwish.org/

To learn more about volunteering with the group, call 724-431-3732.