Veteran Michael Sulsona was waiting two years to get a new wheelchair from the VA, making due with an old chair… until it broke down inside a Lowe’s. That’s when three strangers stepped in to help.
See Sulsona’s letter submitted to the Staten Island Advance to express his thanks and gratitude in sharing this amazing story.
In 1971, I stepped on a land mine in Vietnam and lost both legs above the knee. For the past two years, I have been waiting to receive a new wheelchair from the Veterans Administration. In addition, I have been told that I am not entitled to a spare wheelchair.
On the evening of July 7, my wheelchair fell apart again, while shopping at Lowe’s Home Improvement Center in on Forest Avenue in Mariners Harbor.
Three employees, David, Marcus, and Souleyman jumped to my assistance immediately. They placed me in another chair while they went to work.
They took the wheelchair apart and replaced the broken parts and told me, “We’re going to make this chair like new.”
I left 45 minutes after closing hours in my wheelchair that was like new.
I kept thanking them and all they could say was, “It was our honor.”
The actions of these three employees at Lowe’s showed me there are some who still believe in stepping to the plate.
They didn’t ask any questions, didn’t feel the need to fill out any forms or make phone calls. Someone needed help and they felt privileged to be given the opportunity.
When the federal government failed this man, ordinary individuals took the lead. There is hope for humanity after all – we just have to believe in the power of the human spirit.
