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Ricky Loves His Powerchair!


By eanderson

June 15, 2017

Thanks, everyone, for making stories like this one possible. Last month we had the privilege to make a real difference for a homeless 10-year-old boy. Ricky has a degenerative skeletal disease and a broken leg. Getting around with a manual wheelchair while awaiting surgery is not an option because manual chairs are too difficult for him to push. He is currently living with his aunt, who plans to help him recuperate following his surgery and while his mom looks for housing. She also helped connect him with our program and the MassMATCH AT Regional Center.

Thanks to our community of programs and donors, Ricky is now cruising around independently in a power wheelchair and he and his aunt could not be happier. “He absolutely loves the chair,” she wrote Stavros CIL, our partner, who delivered the equipment. “I took him to Quabbin Dam on the way home and he was amazed at all the places he could go now.”

Smiling boy seated in power wheelchair next to standing smiling man.
Ricky with Tom Filiault on delivery day

Our network is helping give Ricky a quality of life that would otherwise be out of reach. Ricky can get in and out of his aunt’s house because of the loan of a portable wheelchair ramp provided by the AT Regional Center in Pittsfield. His aunt found a ramp/trailer hitch on Craigslist and she writes, “The possibilities are endless.” Despite the broken leg and impending surgery, Ricky is getting a taste of summer: “He was so excited to be able to go on grass and dirt trails with such ease. He even kept up on a bike ride with his cousin yesterday!”

Boy seated in power wheelchair on grass with tree roots, leans to pet a dog on a park bench.
Ricky enjoying the great outdoors

Want to help more kids (and adults) like Ricky? Power wheelchairs change lives and we have a steady demand and even a reasonable supply of equipment. What we need help with is funding for batteries. Help us get more people moving! Your $350 donation will solve someone’s mobility needs and all gift levels are appreciated! Donate today.