Family loses electric wheelchair in flood, stranger steps in to help
Granite Falls -- Sunday, water from a raging river trashed their Granite Falls home and ruined the electric wheelchair that allowed Mary Stevens the freedom to keep up with her daughter.
Tuesday, a complete stranger stepped in to make the holidays brighter for the desperate family by giving them a new wheelchair.
The story began over the weekend when the ragging Stillaguamish River spilled its banks and flooded the family’s rental home destroying nearly everything they owned.
Dana Stevens, age 11, said it has been tough throwing away nearly all of her mud soaked toys. But it was the loss of her mother’s wheelchair that hit the family hardest.
KOMO Newsradio aired the Stevens’ story Monday and that’s when Michael Freeman heard it and called the station.
“My wife and I were driving back from a funeral,” said Michael. “My wife looked at me and said, ‘don’t you have a couple spare wheel chairs?’ I said ‘yup’ and she said ‘why don’t you get her one.’ So here we are.”
The next day Michael drove one of his spare wheelchairs from Tacoma all the way to Granite Falls and delivered it to a grateful Mary.
“I want to tell him thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said Mary as she watched the incredible surprise arrive. “You’ve made it possible so I can do things with my family.”
Mary’s husband Mike told Michael the act of kindness meant more than anyone could imagine.
“Definitely more freedom,” said Mike choking back tears. “Definitely, thank you.”
And Dana, after the delivery, was back to being a little chatterbox thanks to her mom’s renewed spirits. That's when Dana decided not everything was ruined.
“I had a couple things make it,” she said with a grin and pointing to a special doll and letter from her grandmother.
Mary even realized a bonus with the new fire engine red chair.
“There’s a horn!”
Tuesday, a complete stranger stepped in to make the holidays brighter for the desperate family by giving them a new wheelchair.
The story began over the weekend when the ragging Stillaguamish River spilled its banks and flooded the family’s rental home destroying nearly everything they owned.
Dana Stevens, age 11, said it has been tough throwing away nearly all of her mud soaked toys. But it was the loss of her mother’s wheelchair that hit the family hardest.
KOMO Newsradio aired the Stevens’ story Monday and that’s when Michael Freeman heard it and called the station.
“My wife and I were driving back from a funeral,” said Michael. “My wife looked at me and said, ‘don’t you have a couple spare wheel chairs?’ I said ‘yup’ and she said ‘why don’t you get her one.’ So here we are.”
The next day Michael drove one of his spare wheelchairs from Tacoma all the way to Granite Falls and delivered it to a grateful Mary.
“I want to tell him thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said Mary as she watched the incredible surprise arrive. “You’ve made it possible so I can do things with my family.”
Mary’s husband Mike told Michael the act of kindness meant more than anyone could imagine.
“Definitely more freedom,” said Mike choking back tears. “Definitely, thank you.”
And Dana, after the delivery, was back to being a little chatterbox thanks to her mom’s renewed spirits. That's when Dana decided not everything was ruined.
“I had a couple things make it,” she said with a grin and pointing to a special doll and letter from her grandmother.
Mary even realized a bonus with the new fire engine red chair.
“There’s a horn!”
