The SCOOTER Store Donates Power Chair to Teenager Struggling With Rar...(to live her life as normal as possible.N...),Health

Rachel's mother, Valerie Wilhite, is overwhelmed by The SCOOTER Store's generosity and says that the chair "will open up a whole new world" for her daughter. "Rachel can finally start developing some independence and be like every other teenager," adds Ms. Wilhite. "I'm so excited for her!"

The Wilhite family has had to endure numerous challenges associated with Rachel's condition. Rachel's parents earn modest incomes, and medical bills abound and credit card debt keeps increasing as they pay for things to make their daughter comfortable and as "normal" as possible. The family lives paycheck to paycheck and purchasing a powered wheelchair outright would be impossible for them to do.

Although Rachel never complains and maintains a positive attitude, her challenges are ongoing. Rachel tried to attend public school but the children were very cruel to her, so her grandfather now pays for her to attend Round Rock Christian Academy. Rachel had a very old power chair donated to her by a kind soul whose parents died, but the motor failed on it after she had it a few months. Her school purchased a power wheelchair from Craigslist for $400, but it has tears, scratches, needs repair and may not last much longer. It also belongs to the school, so Rachel cannot use it at home on her bad days or take it to the store so she does not have to ride in the baby stroller. But she knows what independence feels like and desperately wants to maintain that in her life as much as possible.

Doug Harrison, CEO and Founder of The SCOOTER Store, said he hopes that "the power chair will make life a bit easier for Rachel, who deserves every chance possible to be an active and healthy 15-year-old. Everyone at The SCOOTER Store is honored to help this y
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