Friday Wheelchair Story:  Claudia gets to church

It was an amazing year, one full of accomplishments. It was an unsettling year for many of our supporters. Though we have lofty goals, we also like to look at success one wheelchair at a time. Every wheelchair we provide is a success. Here is just one to ponder, from our dear friends Steve and Grace of FEDES in Chile:

Twenty years ago, Claudia was hit by a car while crossing the street. The car hit her back and since then she lives in a bed. She lives alone. She gets a very small pension from the government. Thankfully, neighbors are close which has been a blessing because they come every day to help her go to the bathroom and bring her food. However, she is now quite overweight and it is very difficult for them to carry her anywhere. She only gets a chance to breathe fresh air a few times a year. Most of these past 20 years she’s been in her room.

She heard of Free Wheelchair Mission and FEDES from a neighbor. She wrote a letter to us, pleading for a wheelchair, praying for this miracle to happen. Well, through God’s grace, we could answer her prayer. We visited her immediately. She was so thankful! She was able to go to church for her first time in 20 years. 

Thank you to FWM and all the people that donate towards this cause. You give us the privilege to see many prayers answered and lives completely changed every day we give these wheelchairs away.

Friday Wheelchair Story: Our Little Angel

This story comes from the American Nicaraguan Foundation, one of our partners in Nicaragua.

“Angelito” or “little angel” is a play on words and a term of endearment towards our friend. He suffered got meningitis on his third day of life. His father loves him more than life itself, which is why he went to work in Leon as an assistant street vendor, the only job he can find. His mother has almost entirely abandoned him. She moved to Miami years ago and send money very sporadically if at all.

Fortunately however, “Angelito” has recently found himself not one but two mother figures: his grandmother Maria and his aunt Magali. They both take care of him and even spoil him whenever and however, they can. 

“I take him to a free center for therapy and Magali takes good care of him while I go to work washing and ironing other peoples clothes in order to make a few cents here and there,” commented Maria. “One of the most important things in my life has been the well being of Angelito. It has been at times difficult with many hardships in order for his condition to improve even slightly. That is why this is nothing less than a blessing from God in our lives. We give infinite thanks to God and to you all for this gesture and gift of a wheelchair to Angelito and to us,” she says. 

Magali adds: “Thank you so much. We solicited everywhere and through various means in order to find a wheelchair for him - with no results. It is amazing to find that there are people out there though with no familial ties are willing to help and be interested in other peoples’ well being.”

Feb. 1st (Superbowl Sunday) is our 4th Run for Mobility event. We are Surf City USA® Marathon’s charity of choice for this event. If you are one of over 300 participating in running (or walking) either the 5K, ½ or full marathons and raising funds for us, you already know Ashley, our Event Coordinator. She wrote this story:

Although Surf City USA ® Marathon, will be Ozzie Zea’s first half marathon, he’s no stranger to running. Not only has he run several 5k races over the years, he ran the 400 meter event for the Venezuelan Olympic team in 1980 and 1984. 

Ozzie participates in at least one major charity event per year. Running for mobility resonates with him because he comes from a poor family in Venezuela. He describes that growing up they often had only rice and beans to eat for days in a row. In high school, he ran track and earned a scholarship to a US school. Most profoundly, his grandmother spent the last three years of her life in bed because she was unable to walk and the family could not afford the luxury of a wheelchair. Ozzie remembers this vividly and knows how much fuller her last years would have been had she not been robbed of her mobility. These experiences affected him so much that he now supports Free Wheelchair Mission by raising funds so we can give the poorest and most disadvantaged people in the world the opportunity for a better quality of life.

From enduring hardship as a child, to overcoming obstacles as a young adult, Ozzie has never given up. He has coached several sports over the years – from baseball to basketball and even acted as a coach/guide for the disabled track and field teams. 

Ozzie initially set his goal to raise $5,000 this year to transform over 97 lives. He has had to increase his goal several times because the funds just keep coming in! He is currently at $7,096.29 with two weeks to go!

Friday Wheelchair Story: A bright point in a dark life.

Esther distributes our wheelchairs in Viet Nam with our friends of Giving it Back to Kids (GIBTK). 

There is a touching story behind every one of my wheelchair interviews. The more contact I have with the recipients, the more meaning I find in my job. After so many stories, some may think they would lose their emotional affect on me. Not so! 

Sang's voice quivered as she answered my questions. Her story touched my heart.

"My name is Sang. I am 61 years of age. About 2 years ago, I had a stroke. It left me palsied and fragile. I live with my 11-year-old grandson. He finished his 3rd grade class at the charity primary school. I brought this boy up since he was a little baby. His mother ran away and left him. His father re-married and moved to another province. I raised the boy alone by selling steamed glutinous rice at the market. Day by day, he grew up and was obedient. I have always been proud of him.

Everything was fine until the day of my stroke. The doctors expected me to die, but somehow, I lived. The stroke left me so I could no longer walk. I could not go on selling the rice as before. The income of our family was lost. My poor grandson tried to sell lottery tickets but others on the street would just take the money from him. He is too young to earn money. Many days we have little or nothing to eat. My sister support us with a little money but it was just enough for my medicine. My grandson and I have to live by rice given to us from a church. I worry for my grandson and his future. Since I got sick there is nobody to take proper care of him."

Among her many troubles and her distress, she got a surprise joy - a free wheelchair.

"Receiving this wheelchair from Free Wheelchair Mission and Giving it Back to Kids is like a bright point in the dark picture of my life!” 

She smiled happily as we put her in the chair. May a new hope be with her and her grandson! I will remember the big smile in her face. 

Thank you, donors, for all you have done!

Friday Wheelchair Story: Trampled by a Wild Elephant

This story comes from Shankar, our partner in Nepal. He works for the Nepal Disabled and Helpless Employment Center in Kathmandu. He is standing behind Sunita, who told him about her life:

“For more than 8 years, I have had to look for someone to help me. I have lost my courage to walk and move. But from this hour forward I will move easily along with members of my family.”

According to Sunita, she was born on July 10, 1956 in the Jhapa districts of Nepal which is one of the remote areas where we see frequent attacks of wild elephants. While she was working in the fields, she was trampled by a wild elephant. She lost her legs. Our center provides a home for her, but we had no wheelchairs, so before today she crawled in our center. You gave her this chance for a new life! Now she is much honored to stay in a wheelchair. 

“With my kind heart I feel privileged to thank everyone who helped to provide me with this second chance to have freedom to move and revive my life. May your holy god grant you whatever you desire.”

Friday Wheelchair Story: She is twice delighted

This story comes from our friend, Sunu, of Sathyam Ministries in India.

Sandhya is 17 years old.  She is very good in her studies at school, and she is good at drawing and cooking.  Her father died when she was a young child. She is not able to walk and is looked after by her mother and elder brother who run a tailoring shop. Though she is affected by polio, she is not depressed. She is hardworking and enthusiastic.  Her friends and brother help her with her studies.  Sandhya used to sit and crawl on the floor. One day, one of the people who came to their tailoring shop saw Sandhya and told her mother about Sathyam Ministries free wheelchair service.  Her brother approached Sathyam’s office and told them about his little sister’s condition. Within just a few days, Sandhya got her wheelchair.

Since then her enthusiasm and hard work has dramatically increased beyond what it was before! She is twice delighted, because now she both works and enjoys life with her new companion: her very own wheelchair.   She expressed her sincere thanks to Free Wheelchair Mission and Sathyam Ministries.

Friday Wheelchair Story:  God Lifted Me Up When I Was Down!

This story came to us from Tongren City in the Guizhou Province of China, where the Chinese Christian Council distributed 1,100 wheelchairs in fall 2008:

Eight years ago, Zhang was a prosperous man, enjoying financial success and able to afford a car of his own. But the car brought him disaster when he was hit by a truck in a terrible traffic accident. When he regained consciousness in the hospital, he learned that he had lost the use of his two legs forever. He became desperate, losingthe will to live and even scolding the doctor who saved him. He began to drink heavily, and the life he had built seemed to disappear before him. Losing all hope, he began to contemplate suicide. It was 2000, and as many people celebrated the arrival of the new millennium, Zhang was living a nightmare that would last for two long years.

In 2002, a gentleman by the name of Mr. Wang came into Zhang's life. A committed Christian, Mr. Wang shared his faith with Zhang, giving the shattered man a direction for his life by sharing the great love story of the Bible. He spoke of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and God's abounding love for Zhang and all of his children. This love brought light back to Zhang's life and gave him the strength and courage to live on. In 2003, Zhang became a Christian and was baptized.

After receiving a wheelchair at the Tongren distribution, Zhang said to us, "I am very grateful to FWM for answering my prayers. I have prayed for a wheelchair many times. I feel very loved. This wheelchair will remind me of the love I have from my American brothers and sisters." Now, Zhang sells newspapers every day in Tongren to make a living, and goes to church every Sunday.

He added, "God lifted me up when I was down. I now always thank God for giving me a narrow escape in 2000, and for my brother Mr. Wang who led me to God in 2003. I am very happy. You know, a real Christian is the happiest person in this world. No matter what will happen in the future, I will not be afraid since God is always with me, and He will help me. Compared to Jesus' suffering, the car accident now is nothing to me. I also would like to give my hands to those people who suffered similar experiences like me."

Zhang's story is an encouraging reminder that we have been given an insuppressible hope by our loving God, allowing us to endure the hardest of struggles.

Friday Wheelchair Story: Mephibosheth

We are blessed in so many ways. One may surprise you. We have our own Poet Laureate. His name is Pastor Greg from Mercer Island Covenant Church (WA).

The Gospel According to Mephibosheth

King Saul had a grandson with quite a long name.
Mephibosheth's plight caused the boy endless shame.

His legs badly crippled meant he couldn't walk.
He crawled like a beggar embarrassed to talk.

Young Bo dreamed of living his life off the ground.
Released from the prison that held the boy bound.

He hoped and he waited. Mephibosheth prayed.
And one day the cost of Bo's freedom was paid.

A shepherd named David became Israel's king
and hearing of Bo gave the boy cause to sing.

He welcomed young Bo with his weak twisted legs.
"You'll sit at my table. No more will you beg.

As long as you live you'll be part of my clan.
You'll sit up with dignity. That is God's plan.

Bo's life became different because of a chair
and one who was willing to reach out and care.

And you too (like David) can help children cope
by lifting them up and by giving them hope.

A wheelchair means freedom.  It means dignity.
The children are waiting for you and for me.

~ by Greg Asimakoupoulos
(based on 2 Samuel 9)

Friday Wheelchair Story:  Just 100 miles south

Last week some of our staff followed two devoted volunteers Mike and Maureen on a one-day mission trip to Rosarito, Mexico. We had ten wheelchairs, but only time to deliver three of them.  

A rattlesnake bit Pedro about 18 months ago, and delayed medical attention required amputation of most of his right leg. Even at 104 years old, Pedro is very strong lifted himself into the wheelchair. He had been in his bed for about a year.

The next visit was to Todivia, a lovely 85 years old. Her ailments were due more to old age then any one particular sickness. She knew we were visiting and so dressed her best from the beautiful green scarf on her head to her lovely sandals. She looked at us with beautiful eyes full of love and gratitude.   As soon as she sat in her wheelchair, she had a smile and special glow about her that everyone noticed. We took her for a stroll around the neighborhood. She was so thrilled with her new wheelchair she absolutely did not want to get out of it!                                            

The last visit of the day was Clemente. A taxi hit him back in December. Clemente's mother had been searching for a wheelchair since the accident. Clemente hope his broken leg will heal and he promises to pass on the wheelchair should he regain his mobility.                                           

The Rosarito office of DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia) will distribute the other seven wheelchairs.                                            

We only spent one day in Rosarito and just those three deliveries took all day. Even though these people are literally our neighbors, it felt as if we were a world away. 

Friday Wheelchair Story:  It will be better for my son!

This story comes from our good friend Robert K. of Giving It Back to Kids, from his recent wheelchair distribution in Quang Ngai, Viet Nam.

I reached to talk to a disabled woman and asked her if she would mind sharing a little about herself.

My name is Thi. I am 40 years old and a single mother of a 14 year boy.  About 5 years ago I was working in the mountainous areas and I saw a strange piece of metal. Before I had time to realize that it was a bomb from the war, it exploded! It was terrible. When I woke up, I realized I had lost one leg forever.

As I watched her I saw how difficult it was for her to move. Sweat drops literally rolled off her face.

When I asked about her son and husband, she cried. My husband left me once he learned that our son has cerebral palsy. I was left alone to raise our disabled son.

I asked her, have you ever dreamed of having a wheelchair? Yes, I have, she said through her building tears. After stopping for a moment to dry her tears, she continued It will be better for my son. I thought, Oh my god! The chair is not for her but for her son!

A disabled mother with a limited and difficult movement came to receive a wheelchair for her loved son. My heart felt like it was going to break any minute over what I was hearing and seeing.

My son's name is Van. He cannot move on his own. He spends his day lying in bed - day after day. I cannot carry him in my arms any more. But now, I can put him on the wheelchair and roll him anywhere he wants. Thank you so much. From now on, my son can go out and enjoy the blue sky and fresh air. He is an unlucky man, but God keeps a keen eye on him.

Friday Wheelchair Story: She will walk again

This story comes from Ines, a volunteer for FUNDACIÓN CAMINOS POR COLOMBIA. They are one of our distribution partners in Columbia.

What is more serious in life: a physical disability or a spiritual disability?

Is it one's attitude in life that makes one disabled or is it being a paraplegic?

Maria Isabel is a single mother who has raised her 4 children with the conviction and total belief that she will some day walk again. She lost her mobility 11 years ago when she was run over by a car, resulting in several fractured and lacerated discs in her spine.

She told me she will walk again and promised med that when that day comes, she will call us so that someone else in need can use her wheelchair.

It has been 11 years that Maria has been unable to move by herself, yet she still loves life. Meanwhile, my life is full of fear and insecurity and sometimes I feel paralyzed by the challenges I face.

Maria has limited resources and few opportunities, but she gave me a lesson on optimism, gratitude, and faith. I dare not call her condition a disability. She inspired me to find the beauty within my own heart.

Friday Wheelchair Story: What a 6^th grader can do.

This story is about Marcus from Boise, ID. He is one of many people there working on a statewide campaign called Idaho Believes.The full title is Idaho Believes in the Free Wheelchair Mission.

Hi, my name is Marcus and I am a sixth grader at ANSER Charter School. Each sixth grader at my school is asked to select a project that they feel serves the community or the world. When I was in the fourth grade I saw a video about the Free Wheelchair Mission. Once I saw this video, I knew it was what I wanted to support for my project.

I know I am a lucky eleven year old boy. I can run up the stairs at home. I can run on a soccer field. I can walk to my classroom at school. In fact, I take walking for granted. When I think about helping people it often seems like what I do won't make a difference. That is why the Free Wheelchair Mission is so great. For just over $50 we can give a person mobility, and so much more: dignity, a feeling of belonging, a reason to look forward to starting a new day, and a reason to smile.

I raked leaves, took in newspapers for neighbors, set up a booth at my church and at my dad's work and made a presentation for donations to the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities. I hand knitted over 70 hats for wheels and sold them for wheelchairs.

My original goal was to raise enough money for 4 wheelchairs, but the support was so great, I raised $1,028.00, enough for 20! I am not done yet, as the hat orders are still coming.

It was a privilege to spread the word about The Free Wheelchair Mission and to be a part of raising people off of the ground. Thank you for changing the world and giving me the opportunity to help others.