Savannah’s got a brand-new bike
Big Spring's Savannah Smalling has a brand-new bike.
The 22-year old woman lives with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and has had several surgeries recently to relieve intracranial hypertension. But her infectious smile and wonderful spirit has drawn her a big fan club locally.
“Everybody in town knows her. She's quite popular,” Savannah's mom Candice said. “She's loved. We can't make a Wal-Mart trip short because everybody knows her.”
Recently, the Big Spring Centennial Lions Club decided to thank Savannah for making Big Spring a better place to live by getting her a new set of wheels.
“We've helped out with the Lions Club before, and they always get a kick out of her,” Candice said. “David (Stives) from the Lions Club called me and told me about the program that they had learned about, that San Angelo had bicycles, They give bicycles to the handicapped.”
The bicycles available through the program are designed to be easy to use.
“They're three-wheeled bicycles, and they have various ones. They have foot pedaled, hand and foot pedaled, and just hand pedaled,” Candice said. “We thought we were just going to get a foot pedaled one, but this bicycle you can do with your feet, or you can (move levers back and forth with your hands) and it powers the bicycle. Or you can do both at the same time.”
Savannah has had her new bike – bright red, naturally – for about a month now.
“I like it!” she said. “I'm still trying to get the hang of it. They all have baskets in the back, so I could bring stuff when I go places.”
Savannah said she prefers using just her feet on flat or downhill grades, but tackles the uphill slopes with both feet and hands.
“Only on my street...our street. We live on the base, and our road kind of loops around,” Savannah said. “I just use it for exercise for now. Maybe when I get really good at it, there's a Dollar General near us and a DK. I could go there if I get really good at it. I can't turn around right now. I just go back