For most kids, the joy of a Happy Meal toy probably lasts a few weeks. But for one 4-year-old Oregon boy born with a neuromuscular disorder, a teacher's collection of more than 1,000 Happy Meal toys could help him find a new level of happiness for years to come. Nat Ellis — who teaches advertising, marketing and social-media classes at Klamath Union High School in Klamath Falls, Oregon — had spent years collecting the tiny toys, and planned to sell them upon his retirement. Instead, he decided to auction them off when he'd learned about young Logan Roninger, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, a condition that prevents him from walking. Logan's parents are hoping to replace the boy's current wheelchair with a souped-up model called a Tankchair that will help him explore terrain his current wheelchair can't navigate safely, but insurance won't cover the cost."And, it's just, you're helping a little kid. You just see the need to [help him] be a little kid, too, and he's just not able to sometimes."
Ellis' gesture is "such a blessing" that will help her son, whom doctors diagnosed with type-2 spinal muscular atrophy when the boy was 18 months old. "It affects his muscle tone and muscle strength, so, when he wasn't crawling as a baby, and wasn't able to sit up, and he didn't start walking, we obviously knew something was going on," she said. "It affects his muscles, so he will never walk or do any of those things on his own." While Logan's condition also is expected to impact his feeding, swallowing and respiratory function in the future, his cognitive ability is normal, his mother said. She added that he enjoys outdoor activities, but can't explore as much as he'd like in a standard power wheelchair. "I'm a wildlife biologist, and my husband [Robert] is a fishery biologist, so we spend all of our time outside; we love to hunt and fish and camp," Trisha added. "We make those things happen with Logan, but it's hard. You can only get so far in the woods, or you put him in a backpack."
Courtesy of Nat Ellis On eBay, Ellis describes his 1,139-piece stockpile as a "25 year collection that has to go," with "all dust ... graciously included." It began, he wrote, as one toy donated by one of his students. "The prize gem is a complete Peter Pan pirate ship," reads another part of the eBay listing. "Many Star Wars, Furby, Beanie Baby, and a host of others that will make a great collection for you. A second gem is a collection of dalmatians. Not sure there are 101, but there are plenty for you." Ellis put the collection up for bid on eBay in an initial auction that ended Tuesday with a top bid of $103.50, but Trisha said the winner, Ruth Olsen, agreed that it would be best to put it back up for auction in an effort to raise more money. The new auction has a deadline of 12:50 p.m. ET, June 16. Since it's likely the new auction may not raise enough for the Roninger family to buy the Tankchair, the family is hoping to meet the remainder of its $17,000 goal through its YouCaring page.
Independent of the Happy Meal toy auction, the family had raised about $11,000 as of Tuesday, Trisha said. Ellis hopes the value of this lesson far exceeds the money raised through his auction. "[I want] people to see that high-school programs are more than just about teaching reading, writing, math and basic science," he said. "This is just one project that wound up being bigger than we thought it would be." Trisha said she'd be thrilled to see how Logan responds to the Tankchair. "It's going to open up more opportunities to him, just a 4-year-old, independent boy," she added. "His personality is going to go crazy. I hope people see this story and realize one act of kindness can change someone's life." writer Chris Serico on Twitter.Not only do we work diligently to ensure an enjoyable beach vacation by renting multiple mobility products in Northwest Florida, we also sale our custom built motorized beach wheelchairs. Our unique product has been quite a hit and we are now in our fifth year of sales.
We custom build each chair and strive to make them the highest of quality possible. We have sold quite a few of our unique powered Powered Beach Wheelchairs! The chair can give you a whole new level of independence. We’ll be glad to talk to you about your personal powered beach chair. -Penny & Giles control system -Standalone 3 stage battery charger -Two 12 VDC 55AH SLA batteries -Reclining seat back -24 VDC motors rated at 760 volts -Adjustable arm rests -24 VDC electric brakes -Adjustable head rest -Emergency motor disengage levers -Small storage rack under seat -Resettable circuit breaker -Umbrella holder -49cm Polyurethane balloon wheels (rear) -Anti tip wheel -30cm Polyurethane balloon wheels (front) – Comes with tire repair kit
-Max speed is 6 mph -Max distance up to 10 miles I'll be travelling to the kingdom for Umrah in Feb 2015 inshaAllah with my family and parents. I wanted to know how to get the access of wheelchairs for my parents (as both of them can't walk for long) for doing tawaf and sayee on it? Do we have to request in advance from somewhere or they are easily available in Haram? Do we have to pay something for them or they are free? Also, I was wondering if we could get one to use outside Haram as well, like to for a walk to local shops or to or from hotel (as I'm planning to book a hotel within 10 mins walk), is it available from anywhere? Firstly, wheelchairs are not an issue in Makkah, there are wheelchairs everywhere and wheel chair access to hotels, the Grand Mosque of Course and in the malls. Also, many people to help you out in regards to wheelchairs. I just got back a couple of days ago. They have wheel chairs for the elderly, for those that get sick or have other health issues.
Now, if you want a wheelchair for the duration and non stop use, I suggest you make arrangement with the hotel as all hotels have a huge stock of them. I heard they are free to use but they may take your ID to ensure you return the chair. Pharmacys also rent them out too, these are located on the ground floor of the malls, some hotels have exits from the malls through the lifts. Inside the Grand Mosque there are wheelchairs free to access for prayers. Now, having said that, there are some people who own wheel chairs and will rent these out. You will find them at exit of hotels, entrance area to the Grand Mosque, and even inside the Grand Mosque, I was told that if the chair had the name of The mosque on it, then don't pay for it, someone maybe trying to cheat! If not, then negotiate a fair price and return the chair when done. Inside Safa and Marwari, there are specific people who wear green waist coats, who will have wheel chairs and push them for the Safa and Marwari rituals.
So, as you can see, there are many options for you available but my advice is to arrange all this with the hotel. Also, please note at Jeddah airport. You get off the plane on stairs and depart on stairs, but there are many people in wheelchairs and the flight arranges a lift to get them up and down on their flights. Mention this when booking. The trams from the steps of planes to the airport are all accessible and loads of people there to help out. They go through this day and night non stop, so are well prepared. Airports are all fine, accessible and even toilet facilities widely available. Have a nice journey! Edited: 5:38 am, November 25, 2014 2 places mentioned in this post Ranked of 16 things to do in Mecca thanks for the detailed reply proudmom2012, it is much helpful indeed. I'll try to get one while doing the hotel booking, or can ask the hotels when we are there. While getting off and boarding the airplane, it will be okay cz my parents will be able to do it.
It is only they can't do long walks on foot, that's why I needed wheelchairs.... One last question.....when doing the jamat prayer (congregational prayer) in the grand mosque, where do people leave the wheelchair? Or they can keep it with them while praying? Thanks again for the info If your parents don't need them to sit in for prayers, just keep them as close by as you can. Or sit in them if needed to pray. Usually people keep them for the duration they want to stay inside the mosque, one hour, two hours for reading and staying until next prayer, it depends on what you plan.Try not to lose it if it belongs to the hotel though. On Fridays the Grand Mosque is packed at times, so you may have to fold the chair, the other option ( if wheel chair is not needed all the time is to use or buy one of the simple folding chair which you can carry inside. They have many of these simple chairs inside but usually they go pretty fast. If they can manage to get up on the next level, there is more space.
The females stay in areas assigned for females to pray ( when it is time to pray. and the men come later when they have finished their own prayers. I would suggest you get there at least 30 mins before prayers to find a place ( if busy). Take prayer mats if you want too. You need a light sports shoe bags to put in your shoes etc. keep these with you otherwise, they will go missing. Edited: 10:13 am, November 25, 2014 Just a related question - are you still able to perform tawaaf on the temporary mataf area or are these strictly reserved for wheel chairs only?There are two upper levels , the upper ones are preferable for wheelchair users ( and anyone) if the lower ground level is really busy. I also forgot to add they rent both electric ( power ones I think they are called) wheelchairs and normal ones. Edited: 10:36 am, December 09, 2014 I am visiting Saudi in March and my disabled father will be travelling with me. I have been attempting to make enquiries for a electric wheelchair/scooter ( as he likes to be independant) .
I am aware of a limited number of electric chairs/scooters within the Haram but are there any available for private hire outside the Haram? Not sure whether you have made the trip to Makkah already. If you haven't, you should bring along an electric wheelchair/scooter for the trip so that your father can be independent. I am physically disabled due to polio and during my last trip to Makkah I brought my own foldable travel scooter that can be checked into the airplane. I recommend a motorised scooter as it provides a more stable ride compared to a motorised wheelchair, especially on uneven ground. Get one that runs on lithium batteries which is allowed by airlines. I see that you are in Manchester, so I think you may be able to find it there. One destination mentioned in this postI have a Question please answer if you have idea in it and my Question is what is the correct procedure of applying umrah visa for handicap one my friend he is not able to walk longer and he is an Indian and working in Abu Dhabi also aged person he have a wish to do umrah so kindly reply what are the procedure of doing so please thanks..