July 12, 2006 — A special wheelchair was provided to a 15-year-old Charlotte Amalie High School student with a seizure disorder and cerebral palsy. The wheelchair was a joint donation from the five Rotary Clubs of St. Thomas and the St. John Club, as well as Inner Wheel of St. Thomas.
Jacqueline Watson, an occupational therapist for the Division of Special Education of the Department of Education, serves children with special needs on St. Thomas and St. John. In working with the young girl — who is severely disabled, non-ambulatory and has minimal use of her limbs — Watson noticed problems that led her to take the girl to the Shriners Clinic, which is held in the Virgin Islands twice a year.
It was discovered that the girl had severe positioning needs, which were being exacerbated by her old wheelchair, causing her further deformities. The damage being caused by the old wheelchair could be corrected with a new chair and possible surgery. The Shriners provide surgery to individuals who cannot afford this on their own.
The Shriners could not treat the child or offer the surgical alternative without being assured that she would have the necessary new wheelchair, which would cost more than $4,000. This was not within the financial means of the child's mother.
With a new chair, the student's quality of life will be improved: She will have better use of her hands and will be able to keep her head up. It will also be easier for the staff and family to work with her. Her progress will be monitored and it is hoped that now the surgery, which can be very involved and painful, may even be avoided even though it is a viable alternative should it be needed, since she has the proper wheelchair.
Marilyn Blackhall, president of Rotary St. Thomas II, represented the Rotary Clubs and was present when the wheelchair was delivered and fitted here in St. Thomas. "It was very moving to see how much of an improvement the chair made in the student's comfort and ability to sit up and how grateful and happy the family and staff were to receive it. It makes one proud to be a Rotarian and to participate in the many programs and contributions that Rotary makes to help meet various needs in our community and throughout the world."
Kiki Toro, a specialist in seating and positioning devices for children and adults with disabilities, owns and operates K. Toro Garraton, Inc. He custom makes wheelchairs and assisted technologies in order to improve quality of life for the disabled. His business is based in Puerto Rico, and he and his technician, Jorge Munoz, built the chair and came to St. Thomas for custom fitting and assembly, which took several hours.
Watson was present to assist and train the family and student in proper use of the chair.
It was enlightening to see that the dedication of staff such as Jacqueline Watson, business people such as Toro and a community volunteer organization such as Rotary could make this happen.
