How a Custom Wheelchair and God’s Love Gave Nicolly New Hope

Nicolly’s bright eyes scan the room. It’s morning and her family is one of the first to arrive at the hilltop church in Brazil where Joni and Friends will be distributing wheelchairs through our Wheels for the World^® program. Over her eleven years of life, she has never seen anything quite like this: a group of friendly strangers welcoming her family in…  

Non-verbal and living with limited motor coordination, balance, and muscle strength caused by cerebral palsy and microcephaly, Nicolly (like her family) has adapted to life with disability in extraordinary ways. Years ago, her father and older brother left for the U.S. so her brother could pursue a better education. Her mother stayed behind with the girls, caring for them alone. 

Despite doctors saying that Nicolly may not be able to move because of her disabilities, her mom has helped her daughter to adjust and embrace life. Still, Nicolly had relied on her mom for everything: eating, bathing, and moving from place to place. To keep up with her younger sister, Nicolly’s mom has put her in knee pads to crawl around the house. 

“I just let her go,” says Nicolly’s mom, “And she got stronger.” 

And while her challenges have not hampered her joy or magnetic personality, they have limited her opportunities. So, at the brink of Nicolly’s adolescence, her future—and that of her family—looked uncertain and bleak, especially since her mom couldn’t afford the wheelchair she needed. 

“You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.” Psalm 10:17  

Deep, pressing need propelled Nicolly and her family on their long journey to our Wheels for the World^® outreach, held in a different state in Brazil. The trip took a toll, but they all sense something new and fresh… a spark of hope transcending their fatigue.  

Our team of Joni and Friends volunteers offered a warm welcome and began getting acquainted with Nicolly’s particular needs. Between our physical therapists and wheelchair mechanics, a truly customized creation took shape as Nicolly enjoyed one-on-one attention. Nicolly’s mother watched in amazement as her daughter smiled through a range of stretches, exercises, and an interactive seating process.  

Joy radiated from Nicolly as she got to try new things—like standing on her feet with the support of an experienced physical therapist and throwing a ball to another team member! Nicolly also received loving care from a visiting speech-language pathologist who offered simple but life-changing advice: begin using a communication board at home. With simple cut-out pictures, which can rest on her wheelchair tray, Nicolly can start expressing her wants and needs more clearly, giving her a voice like never before. 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” Ephesians 3:20 

Finally, after hours of focused work from our team, Nicolly sat in her custom-fitted wheelchair, comfortable and strong. She lit up as she gazed at a tray built just for her. While in one sense it is a simple piece of equipment, Nicolly’s tray supports a whole new feast of possibilities, from tasty snacks to coloring projects. Gratitude overflowed from Nicolly’s mom. As she told us through tears: 

 “We imagined we would just go home with any chair. We had no idea how much love and care would go into making this chair just for Nicolly.” 

What started as a visit for a wheelchair became a moment of breakthrough for Nicolly’s whole family. Beyond a hand-fitted wheelchair, God provided a miraculous glimmer of hope beyond all her mother had asked or imagined. After an in-depth assessment, our physical therapist delivered stunning news to Nicolly’s mom, who had been told in the past that her daughter had little hope of developing greater mobility: with consistency in stretches, exercises, and therapy, Nicolly in fact has potential not only to grow stronger but even to walk independently one day. 

Giving the Glory to Jesus 

Before they left, Nicolly’s family sat with the evangelism team from the church that hosted the outreach. They prayed together, talked about God’s faithfulness, and received Bibles, Gospel bracelets, and a copy of Joni’s Story. Finally, to move toward the many bright new possibilities God has provided, the team invited Nicolly’s family to explore the holistic care offered through Joni’s House Brazil. 

Setting out for home, Nicolly beamed as she sat up with dignity and hope, looking at a future illuminated with the love of Jesus. 

You can send wheelchairs and the Gospel to disabled people around the world. When you partner with Joni and Friends by giving, volunteering, or praying for the ministry, you offer hope through hardship and bring glory to Jesus!