DELAWARE COUNTY, Pa. -
FOX 29 gets results for a Delaware County man in need of his power wheelchair to get around.
Seventy-three-year old stroke victim Carl Ryan sits on the bed in his tiny ground floor apartment, watching the world pass him by.
"This is just so messed up," Ryan tells our Bruce Gordon, as his now-useless power wheelchair sits a few feet away. "It's like you're a convict in a cell, where you can't get out."
For years, Carl used his power wheelchair to get around.
"It gives me confidence to do things for myself," says Ryan, "so I don't have to ask people to do a lot of things for me."
But in August of 2011, Carl says the chair's $250 battery charger was stolen, leaving him to get around on foot- slowly, painfully.
"My hips start giving out. My knees start giving out from the arthritis," explains Ryan as he demonstrates what it's like to get around with a cane.
Michael Wesley is Carl's caregiver.
He's spent months trying to get a replacement charger.
In fact, Carl is eligible for a whole new chair.
Wesley told Gordon he has called Ryan's insurer, "the doctor, I've called his case manager. I've called anybody possible that has something to do with this man's case."
And the result?
"Nothing."
Gordon called Ryan's insurance company, and then his doctor.
The insurer made clear the doctor needs to verify the need for the equipment, and the doctor's number was busy.
So he called the folks at Seventh Street Medical Supply, Inc., in Feasterville, Pa.
They've helped out before and came through again, this time, offering to donate a free battery charger and put it in the mail immediately.
And they say they'll help Ryan handle the procedure for getting the brand new power chair for which he may be eligible.
The charger should get to Ryan as early as Wednesday.
With his power chair back in use, Ryan can now look forward to "Fresh air. Being able to talk to people- see people."
"Good," he murmured, holding back tears. "Sounds very good. Very good."
FOX 29, Getting Results!
Seventy-three-year old stroke victim Carl Ryan sits on the bed in ground floor apartment. Ryan says the battery he uses for his powered wheelchair was stolen.
