It Takes a Village: A Story from the MMEC

March 18, 2021 9:11 pm Published by

Kent was having what felt like the best day of his 28-year-old life.

It was a beautiful day, and Kent’s disposition was just as sunny. He had just landed his first job as a graphic designer and was excited to be starting tomorrow. He and his beloved girlfriend were on their way to her sister’s graduation. There was so much to celebrate!

They rounded a bend in the road and saw that it was filled with sand. His tires lost traction. His pickup slid off the road, rolled, and he was thrown out of the vehicle. When he landed, his back hit a rock and he lost consciousness.

block of black text that says, "someone I once loved gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift."

THREE YEARS LATER…

The accident had left Kent a paraplegic. His girlfriend had fully recovered and sustained no lasting injuries. Sadly, their relationship did not survive the trauma of what had happened.

To say the last three years were difficult would be a gross understatement. He found himself battling constant pain from his injuries and was never able to report to his new job. He went through several wheelchairs, none sufficient to support his needs. The first was a used wheelchair, too small for his 6’1’’ 110-pound frame. When it was broken beyond repair, his mother bought him a new wheelchair from Walmart. When that fell apart after a couple of years, his family could not afford to buy another. Thus, Kent was bedridden for three months and fully depended on others to move. Depressed, confined to bed and in pain, Kent gave up the thought of working again or being able to get around without the help of others to push him in his rickety chair.

Kent’s luck turned around when his sister Ruth discovered Bridge Disability Ministries’ Meyer Medical Equipment Center (MMEC).

MMEC’s benevolence program accepts applications for power wheelchairs at little to no cost to individuals/families in need. Depending on supply, MMEC can provide up to four chairs a month. 

A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN…

Kent and his sister Ruth sent in an application, requesting a chair that would allow Kent to climb inclines independently. They also hoped that the chair would be light and foldable so that they could load it in a car and travel with his family.

Bridge only receives chairs that fit these criteria a few times a year. But 4-6 months earlier MMEC had received a donation of a near new hybrid motorized chair with quick release, on regular wheels and a lithium-ion battery to power it. The donor provided it with a demonstration and some detailed manuals. He paid $12,000 for it, he says, and wanted the chair to go to someone who really needed something versatile. For a while, no one was interested, and it sat in the MMEC untouched.

That was until Gerry, a MMEC team member, spoke with Kent over the phone. A quick call to Neal in MMEC Tukwila confirmed the chair was still available. It was a match made in heaven. And just in time for Kent’s birthday!

THE WIND IN MY FACE…

Since then, Ruth and Kent have sent Bridge several messages expressing his gratitude and updating us on his life:

“On behalf of me and my family, I would like to thank you and all of your team for such an amazing donation. I never thought I would own one of these hybrid wheelchairs and look at me now in one of them thanks to you.”

“As we all know, we might have difficult moments during our lifetime and I believe that’s part of life but, this accident has marked my life in a whole different way specially me knowing I’m a young man that felt full of life at one certain point. It’s great to feel your support, your kindness and your love for helping others like me, receiving so much love and support from people I have never met is priceless.”

“Now, I would love to give a special thank you to Mr. Neal who truly believed in me and did whatever he could to make this happened. As I am now driving this cool wheelchair, I can tell you that I can be more independent. I can go outdoors on my own without having a family member help out. I can feel the fresh air coming into my face as I’m riding it. My nieces get to have a great time with me as they run next to me. It’s just been a great experience!”

“As I get to be independent and be around on my own, my goal is to do as many things as I have been wanting to for the past years. Once again, thank you so much for the donation that was given to me and may God bless you and all of your team.”

White block of text that says, "if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."

WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU…

Thank you for making helping others one of your life concerns. Because you have blessed us with your donations — of equipment, money, time – we are able to bless others. Truly, we cannot do this without you!

Categorised in: , , ,