Teen’s Wheelchair Stolen In Car Theft; Medical Company Donates New Wheels
Nov 30, 2018, 9:41 PM | Updated: 11:25 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Everyday people get things stolen, but it’s not every day it’s something so critical to someone’s life.
Rhett Carbine is 19 years old and has a rare genetic condition that makes it impossible for him to get around without his specialized motor wheelchair.
His family was still trying to figure out what to do about the stolen wheelchair when they got some great news.
At Alpine Home Medical in Millcreek, they’re used to helping people, but on Friday one of their customers didn’t have to pay a thing.
Rhett Carbine was getting used to his new wheels.
“I might see what the max speed of this one is,” Rhett Carbine said, as he motioned to the brand new wheelchair he was sitting in. “I want to see if goes faster than the old one.”
His mother, Andrea Carbine says the old one disappeared a couple of weeks ago when thieves broke into the family’s SUV.
“They could see there was a need for this chair,” she said. “It was like, what goes through your head when you’re actually doing this and seeing there is a need and you’re taking from that?”
He is a service missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the loss of his wheelchair meant the loss of his ability to serve.
“It’s one of those things where you wonder who really cares and you never really know,” Andrea Carbine said.
It turns out quite a few people care, including the local medical supply business. With the help from their charitable foundation, representatives from Alpine Home Medical contacted the family with the good news.
“(I felt) relief and gratitude,” Rhett Carbine said. “I just felt so much gratitude.”
Where there once was confusion and uncertainty, there is now excitement and opportunity, and now the belief there is more good in the world than bad.
“There really are people out there who are willing to help,” Rhett Carbine said.
Police believe the wheelchair was stolen then scrapped for its parts.
The thief left behind the oxygen tanks that were next to it.
