Motorized wheelchairs provided to the needy
Norwich - To Robert Palmer of Westerly, a motorized wheelchair is his pair of shoes.
He needs it to "be off and running," and the active 50-year-old wears them out like shoes.
Palmer was one of more than four dozen recipients Sunday of the Gift of Mobility, a program launched and led by Philip Pavone, owner of AZ Pawn of Norwich and Danielson. For the fifth consecutive year, Pavone put out the call for residents throughout the region in need of motorized wheelchairs. He then solicits donated chairs, batteries and expert help to repair, upgrade and charge the chairs for the annual give-away.
Pavone minced no words when describing his frustration with federal and state governments and private insurance companies that deny coverage for motorized chairs for people he says are in dire need of chairs for everyday life.
"I'm trying to make the state and country aware that you are in need and how ridiculous it is that you don't qualify for a chair," Pavone said to a packed banquet room at the Holiday Inn Sunday.
He read portions of the dozens of letters he received this year from families and individuals asking to be considered for the program. He said one 27-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis has two young children and is married to a Navy man about to be deployed. When she is home, she is stuck in a recliner chair for the entire day, because her back is too weak to use a walker.
Another severely disabled man with use of only one arm is stuck in bed or in his manual wheelchair with no way to move around.
"You know what you can do in a manual wheelchair with one arm?" he said. "Not a goddamn thing."
In somewhat nicer language, Pavone called it "absolute unacceptable baloney" that a 14-year-old boy with severe disabilities could not get insurance approval for a chair to improve his mobility.
Pavone also hopes to convince state and federal officials to create a way for people to donate used chairs easily, without a lot of paperwork.
The Gift of Mobility program has grown each year since Pavone started the effort. With the 48 chairs - which could cost $4,000 to $35,000 - to be given away this year, he will top the 100 mark for the program. This year's give-away grew to the point where he needed a banquet room to hold it. Holiday Inn in Norwich donated use of the room.
Neatly lined up wheelchairs filled half the room, and the crowd of recipients and family and friends spilled into the hotel lobby. Volunteer Patrick Plagge made custom adjustments for each recipient as names were matched with chairs. For one left-handed man, he moved the controls to the left armrest. He adjusted armrests in or out to fit larger or smaller recipients and gave brief lessons on how to use the chair. Pavone obtain home information to send someone to visit the person to show how the chairs work.
Palmer, who suffers from osteogenesis imperfecta, was among the first recipients of a motorized chair five years ago. He has returned each year for new or refurbished chairs as he wears them out. He in turn donates the worn out chairs to be repaired for others.
"With this, I'm off and running," said Palmer, whose shriveled, child-size legs lie limp in the chair. "I am a very active person. Me and my bone disease are not compatible."
Shirley Berry, 60, of Mystic never had a motorized chair before. Berry's friend, Linda Coats, learned about Pavone's program on local radio station WCTY and immediately wrote a letter on Berry's behalf. Berry has multiple disabilities, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, numbness and swelling in her legs and cellulitis.
"As soon as I get a ramp, I'm going to go to the store," Berry said. "By myself."
Austin Morgan, 11, of Groton received the first chair Sunday. His mother and helpers carefully lifted him from a manual chair to his new seat. His legs were wrapped and braced from recent muscle-strengthening surgery. His mother, Sujeen Vansant said Austin has quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He has no lower body control, and his upper body is too weak to lift himself out of a chair.
So Austin needs a special chair with leg rests that will grow with his body and allow him to be raised up to use his muscles the best he can.
The insurance company paid for one chair five years ago, but he has outgrown it and needs a new one. But Vansant said the insurance company repeatedly denied a new chair, despite two physicians' letters insisting he needs it. She plans to try again, but gratefully accepted the Gift of Mobility chair Sunday.
"Merry Christmas buddy," Pavone said to Austin, giving him a fist bump.
His 3-year-old sister, Savannah Vansant greeted her brother and marveled at the new chair. She then climbed into his old chair.
"This is amazing," Sujeen Vansant said. "I've been fighting with the insurance company since April."
c.bessette@theday.com
Twitter: @Bessettetheday
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