This story comes from a very dear supporter, Susan Shaw.

Susan’s heart is with Fiji. A few years ago she pledged to completely satisfy that country’s needs for wheelchairs. She helped bring 2760 wheelchairs there so far, possibly satisfying 15% of the need in Fiji! Susan just returned from leading a mission team there, and here is one of her many stories:

I just returned from my 5th trip to Fiji. Every journey teaches me new lessons and only reinforces my commitment and desire to continue helping and changing the lives of so many deserving helpless people in Fiji.

Bill, the boat captain of our dive boat, came to me one day asking if we could visit a home nearby. We showed up at their home unannounced on a rainy day and after the mother showed us in, she took us to the outside patio where her son, Villiame was lying in the drizzle. The site of this large 28 yr. old young man unable to walk or talk took my breath away. He was crippled at birth and could not speak. He started to crawl into the home to see what all the excitement was about. He only has his mother to look after him while the father is away working. She literally lifts him up by herself to attend to his needs.I have no idea how.

She had tears in her eyes when we showed up with Villiame's new life changing wheelchair. He was lifted up and for the first time in his life, he had mobility under his own power - without crawling! Not only did he have a new life, so did his loving mother.

What inspires me even more than the smiles on the family and recipient's faces, is the sense of pride that occurs in those who brought us there – in this case Captain Bill. When we inspire others to give, they become heroes and are infected by that all-rewarding blessing of having served their fellow man. Every time I return, my heroes have found more and more people in need for me and the Free Wheelchair Mission.

Serving and bringing these helpless people the gift of mobility is the greatest achievement of my life.

Susan Shaw