Sunday, April 6, 2008

Electric Scooter Grants 80-year-old from Texas New Outlook for Life

Electric Scooter Grants 80-year-old from Texas New Outlook for Life

Medical Wonder Receives Gift of Mobility from The Scooter Store

Plainview, TX (PRWEB) May 8, 2007

Mitchell Kelley's family nearly lost him six times. Though he survived several life-threatening heart attacks, severe diabetes complications and respiratory failure, he was physically debilitated and his family was emotionally exhausted. Doctors deemed Mr. Kelley, 79, a medical wonder. The Scooter Store deemed him a perfect candidate to receive a Gift of Mobility.

As part of its Gift of Mobility program, Mr. Kelley received a new electric scooter (http://www. thescooterstore. com) from The Scooter Store at his home today. The donation was made in partnership with Dream Foundation, the nation's first and largest organization that grants wishes to adults who have been physically, emotionally and financially devastated by serious illness. The delivery was made by Jason Ratliff, The Scooter Store's Lubbock Store Manager.

Mr. Kelley's daughter, Judy Enos, worn down from her own medical troubles, reached out to The Scooter Store when a string of medical misfortunes rendered her father weak, depressed and virtually immobile.

"During this past year alone, we have nearly lost my dad due to respiratory complications caused by congestive heart failure and pneumonia, " says Ms. Enos. "Daddy only had 20 - 30 percent of his heart functioning at one time."

There's more.

"He is a severe diabetic and sometimes has to have up to six or seven shots of insulin a day," his daughter adds. "He also has emphysema and chronic bronchitis and has to have four oxygen treatments daily."

Due to Mr. Kelley's severe diabetes, his feet are in bad shape and the distance he can walk is limited. Furthermore, respiratory problems hampered his breathing and blood circulation.

But The Scooter Store (http://www. thescooterstore. com) is helping reverse Mr. Kelley's dismal outlook.

"I saw an advertisement for The Scooter Store on television and talked to daddy about this. He was so excited. It was like he had some hope to get out of the room," says Ms. Enos.

This is what Doug Harrison, CEO and Founder, of The Scooter Store, envisioned when he created the Gift of Mobility Program in December 2002. Since its inception, the outreach program has worked with organizations around the world to yearly donate up to 70 power wheelchairs, electric scooters and manual wheelchairs valued at more than $200,000 to community service organizations, enabling them to provide freedom, independence and personal integrity to individuals with limited mobility.

"We are pleased that Mr. Kelley's quality of life will be improved by this donation," said Mr. Harrison, who started the company with his wife, Susanna, in 1991. "As we strive to be good corporate citizens, our Gift of Mobility (http://www. thescooterstore. com) program allows us to give back. We hope that this scooter allows Mr. Kelley and his family to enjoy better days."

Ms. Enos says her father's new mobility will grant him a seventh chance at life. "I know that once my father is able to move around, he will leave the room, go do some activities and have a whole new outlook on life."

About The Scooter Store
Since 1991, The Scooter Store has helped provide freedom and independence to more than 285,000 people with limited mobility. The Scooter Store offers a full line of durable medical equipment, including power wheelchairs and scooters, lift, ramps and accessories in 47 states, including seven locations in Texas. The Scooter Store has worked with more than 100,000 physicians, providing expertise and quality service to their patients, and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. For additional information, visit The Scooter Store website at http://www. thescooterstore. com (http://www. thescooterstore. com).

For more information, contact:
Mark B. Leita, Director of Public Affairs,
The Scooter Store
(830) 627-4717

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