Organizations unite with common goal to help
BROKEN BOW - Last week, this community does what it does best and what Nebraskans are known for - coming together to help others.
Several organizations from the Custer County area joined together for a specific goal and a Broken Bow’s family’s home life is now easier because of it.
It started several weeks ago when Cathy Minnick with Sandhills Community Collaborative received a phone call. A Broken Bow family needed a specialized wheelchair and were turned down by MedicAid more than once.
“Unfortunately, it’s not the type of thing we usually do,” Minnick said of the Collaborative. However, she didn’t let that stop her. She called Julie Toline who is active with both the Lions Club and Salvation Army. “‘We can help,” Minnick said Toline told her.
Toline then reached out to Deb McCaslin of the Broken Bow Area Rotary. By the time McCaslin contacted Mona Weatherly of the Broken Bow Elks, McCaslin was able to say that not only were the Rotary, Lions and Salvation Army on board, but also Central Nebraska Medical Clinic, the Children’s Christmas Fund and the Optimists.
Together, all the organizations donated more than $3,500 which was needed so that Frontier Home Medical could order the chair. TEAM Physical Therapy also helped, using their discount on the pricing.
The recipient of the chair is 9 year old Carter Weems and his family. His parents are Riley and Jennifer and he has two siblings, Madelyn, 4, and Landon, 11.
Carter has Angelman syndrome. According to mayoclinic.org, the genetic disorder can cause delayed development, intellectual disability and problems with speech and balance.
“He’s unable to speak,” Jennifer Weems said. However, she explained, Carter can communicate with some gestures. He has a wheelchair for traveling when out and about and the new chair will be strictly for home use.
“He will sit in it while he eats, so he can’t tip over,” Jennifer said. Without the chair, the options which included to not have Carter join the family for meals, were limited.
“We can’t tell you how grateful we are,” Riley said. “This piece of equipment will help normalize things.”
The decision to help came easily for the organizations. Toline said it was natural for the Lions to help as this would normally be the type of cause they would hold a fund raiser for.
“Since we can’t do fund raisers (due to COVID),” we reached out,” she said.
Weatherly was more than happy that the Elks could help as well. “The Elks as an organization have had for years a Benevolent fund to assist children with disabilities, so this
is a good fit for us,” she said. “Even more than that, all these organizations working together makes this even more special.”
Representatives from the organizations met Carter and his family at Frontier Medical Friday in Broken Bow Nov. 6. The chair was being assembled at the Cozad store location and was delivered to the family on Saturday. Cathy Minnick said it was special to see the family when the chair arrived, “All smiles!” she said. “I’m really proud of our community and proud to be a little part of this.”