When Maria arrived at Devices 4 the Disabled, it was immediately clear how much love and perseverance she and her family share. It was a true team effort - her husband lifting the wheelchair from the car and holding it steady as her mother carefully transferred Maria to the wheelchair, placed the ventilator on her lap, and then pushed Maria in the wheelchair into the clinic — a process that has become part of their daily routine. Maria lives with muscular dystrophy, a condition that weakens her muscles, and relies on a ventilator to breathe. It’s not easy, but they handle it with incredible strength and quiet courage.
Maria understands the challenges that come with her diagnosis, but what stands out most is her quite resilience. Even when the weight of her circumstances shows in her eyes, she carries her challenges with remarkable grace and meets reality with determination—choosing to focus on what she can do, seeking hope over despair, and making each moment meaningful. Facing life with resolve, she still worries about being a burden, but what she truly longs for is to do as much as she can — as a mother, a wife, a daughter, in anything she does.
A manual wheelchair was no longer an option for Maria. She needed a power wheelchair. But without a wheelchair-accessible van, outings had become rare. Her wish was simple: for a lightweight power chair her family could lift into their car, so she could join them for moments that matter — daily errands, family gatherings (Maria is one of nine siblings), and other fun activities outside.
Made possible through the donation of this essential equipment, the D4D team measured and made adjustments to fit Maria for a power chair that met her needs perfectly. Equipping the chair with special attachments to hold her ventilator securely also meant that she no longer had to hold it in her lap. When Maria took her first careful turns, the joy on her face said everything — freedom, independence, and possibility returned all at once.
And then came the moment no one will forget. The most rewarding moment.
Maria's husband and 4-year-old son came into the clinic and Maria turned toward them in her new chair. Her son’s eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he ran to her — climbing gently into her lap. It was a simple moment, but one filled with everything she had been hoping for, the independence she had longed for. Now with her son in her lap rather than her ventilator, Maria's world opened up in new and meaningful ways.
Her world now includes the ability to keep up with her son, to move alongside her family, and to live with greater independence — a greater sense of belonging and purpose.
The impact of D4D's work is best expressed by those we serve. In her own words, Maria shared her gratitude:
"I'm grateful this place [Devices 4 the Disabled] exists. For families looking for equipment people need to improve their life. I'm really happy we're here today."
As Maria left the Devices 4 the Disabled clinic that day, another powerful moment unfolded—her family walking along side her as she moved independently down the street in her new chair, no longer in the chair pushed by her mother. For the first time in a long while, she could go places with her family under her own power, enjoying life and time together on her own terms.
Maria's story reminds us that mobility isn't just about movement - it's about connection, dignity, and the moments that make life whole.