This Miracle Boy’s Wheelchair is the Perfect Fit!
Jacob’s Parents Call Him Their “Miracle Boy”
When Jacob was born, he wasn’t breathing. His mother Katrina remembers her anguish as doctors pronounced her baby boy dead. But Katrina believed in miracles, and begged God to give her child life.
“There was no breath in him at all… I cried out to the Lord, and ten minutes after he was born, Jacob took his first breath,” says Katrina.
Katrina and her husband Julius shared the story of their “Miracle Boy” Jacob with our Wheels for the World™ team during an outreach in the Philippines. Now seven years old, Jacob brings joy to his whole family and all who meet him. Still, the traumatic events surrounding his birth have left him with severe disabilities. He has athetoid cerebral palsy, which causes abrupt, involuntary movements, tremors, and unsteadiness. He can’t walk or move around on his own.
Jacob Needed a Wheelchair…
While they want to provide for their beloved son in every way, Jacob’s parents couldn’t afford or access the wheelchair he needed. They tried taking him to school but, without a wheelchair, he got few opportunities to interact with his peers or take part in activities. Instead, he was left lying on the floor.
When they learned that Joni and Friends was holding a Wheels for the World outreach in Manila, Katrina and Julius brought their son to see us, full of hope…
“…Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
Isaiah 49:23
A Pediatric Cub Wheelchair for Jacob
Jacob’s excitement shined through as our Wheels for the World therapists and mechanics took his measurements and selected a wheelchair for him. Based on his needs, the team selected a brand-new pediatric Cub wheelchair for Jacob—a design that made its Joni and Friends debut on this very outreach!
Because of children like Jacob living with disabilities around the world, Joni and Friends helped develop the specialized Cub wheelchair. Our team member, David, shared about some of the Cub chair’s features:
“Not only is the Cub chair incredibly versatile and easy to tailor to the individual needs of its recipient… It folds up and breaks down quickly and efficiently so it can be positioned on the back of a tricycle, carried up and down stairs, and fit through doorways without problems.”
In countries like the Philippines, families often don’t have accessible vans, so traditional pediatric wheelchairs can be difficult to load, transport, and even fit through the doorway of a home. And in Manila, where motorized tricycles are a common mode of transportation, the Cub chair’s modular design makes it possible for a child like Jacob to have mobility wherever his family goes.
“It only took Julius a few minutes to learn how to adjust Jacob’s new Cub chair.” – David
Both Julius and Katrina beamed as they watched Jacob get comfortably and safely seated in his new wheelchair. Our occupational therapist, Jillian, helped to ensure a perfect fit. She shared how Jacob’s life will change because of his wheelchair:
“Now Jacob can fully participate in school. The table on his Cub chair makes it possible for Jacob to draw, play with toys, and learn to write. His new Cub chair allows Jacob to be as independent as possible. And this wheelchair will grow with Jacob!”
Jillian
Through Wheels for the World, Jacob’s family experienced the powerful love of Jesus, not only through his wheelchair, but also through the Bible and the eternal Christ-centered hope they received.
You can make a profound difference for children and families living with disability, all around the world. When you support Joni and Friends, you send hands-on help—including new pediatric Cub wheelchairs—and the Gospel to children and families in need.
Support Joni and Friends
You can send more children—and their families—a custom-fitted wheelchair and the hope of Christ today!
