"There wasn't a dry eye in the mall," Ewing said of the Jan. 21 presentation.
The laptop came as a complete shock, the 16 -year old Carfield said, who thought she was going to give a short speech and receive an honorary plaque.
Instead, she was given a Compaq voice operated laptop and heartfelt praise from Ewing, before being mobbed by a throng of newspaper and television reporters.
Overall, she estimated she gave 15 interviews with the media, including three from local television stations.
In Omaha to host an upcoming music competition, Ewing went on the Internet a few days earlier to check the weather and came across a newspaper article written about Carfield, originally printed in the McCook Daily Gazette. The article described how she became a certified lifeguard despite being born without a left arm and only a partial right arm.
Impressed with the teen's accomplishment, Ewing contacted her mother and made arrangements for the Carfield's to be his guests at the music competition. During the conversation, Ewing found out that Carfield could use a voice compatible laptop, which he decided to give her along with a backpack.
"I am so proud of what this young lady has accomplished," Ewing said at the presentation. "I read that story and was so proud of her - she hung on to her dream. It's amazing what you've done to inspire people."
Everyone got a little emotional at that point, Carfield said, who accepted the laptop with her mother and sister standing nearby as her father videotaped from the sidelines. Even Ewing had tears in his eyes, she said.
"I was trying to keep my composure," Ewing said. "But when a tear come down Sable's face, everyone kind of lost it."
After the presentation and interviews, a film crew recorded Carfield swimming in the hotel pool and performing lifeguard techniques with her younger sister, Jackie. The footage will be used as part of a syndicated television show he hopes to produce in the future, Ewing said, who won an Emmy award in 1995 for Best Children's and Youth Program.
The following day, Carfield was treated with a ride to Baseline Studio in a stretch limousine Hummer, where she and her family spent the morning with winners of the music contest.
Besides the laptop, Carfield gained a whole new circle of friends, from Tarrin, the winner of the music contest, to Ewing, who still keeps in contact with her.
"Sable is truly what Hang on to the Dream is all about," Ewing said. "Not only is she going to save lives as a life guard, but she is going to change lives. "
"It was awesome," Carfield said of the weekend. "I had a blast." The laptop, which will type her voice at 160 words a minute, will be especially helpful in college, she said. A sophomore honor roll student, Carfield currently uses notes her teachers provide to keep up with her school work.
The Hang on to the Dream Foundation, based out of Troy, Mich., is a non-profit organization which honors youth ages 8-17 who achieve their goals regardless of struggles or challenges. The Foundation's mission is to provide them with items and opportunities to help them succeed.
Because of the enthusiastic response, Ewing said the Foundation is opening a local chapter in Omaha for the Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Missouri region. A regional director has already been chosen, he said, to help keep track of kids who serve as positive role models.
Information about the organization, as well as photographs of Carfield at the Omaha presentation, can be seen at hangontothedream.com