Vitor's school-provided chair looked more like a child's mesh stroller than a wheelchair. While it may have been adequate when he was seven, the chair now seemed flimsy and was unsuitable for a boy of 12 with his type of disability. Vitor often sat slumped to one side, exacerbating a spinal condition that recently required surgery to correct.

 

There was another pressing need for a new wheelchair- summer camp was just weeks away and Vitor would not be able to attend without a chair with proper support. His family depended upon the stimulation the camp provided and would be hard-pressed to find a substitute given Vitor's needs.

 

 

A calm and curious boy with long eyelashes and a social smile, Vitor was diagnosed with multiple physical and developmental disabilities that left him unable to feed or transport himself.  

Vitor and his family moved to the U.S. from Brazil in 2004, relocating to Framingham a little over a year ago. Vitor's father works days as a house painter and his mother works nights so each can care for him when Vitor is not in school. Like many other low-wage earners, the Lemos family has health insurance, but it only covers emergencies and not "extremely necessary medical equipment" like a wheelchair. 

 

Both parents feared that taking time off from work to search for a new wheelchair might very well result in the loss of a paycheck or even a job. A custom-made wheelchair would also be cost-prohibitive to parents who struggle to provide what little income they can for their family. Vitor's parents were frustrated and bewildered, unsure of what to do next. Hearing of their plight, a school therapist referred them to KidsCare Connection at MetroWest Legal Services. 

When Vitor's parents came to KidsCare in April 2009, program coordinator Cris Sciaba went into action. She immediately contacted ATG Rehab in Bridgewater, a company known for its state-of-the-art mobility equipment and compassionate customer care. Technicians at ATG worked with KidsCare and Vitor to customize a chair with sufficient head and back support, a foot rest, safety belt and a removable desk.

 

 

 

Shortly after receiving the new wheelchair, a letter from Vitor's 14-year-old brother, Lucas, arrived at MetroWest Legal Services. In it, Lucas expressed the family's gratitude to MetroWest Legal Services for helping their dream become a reality.