It’s been a whirlwind 48 hours for the Gardeckis.
Tuesday afternoon, the Paris family lost their SUV and its contents – including the customized wheelchair used by four-year-old Isaiah – when it was stolen from a parking space outside a Brantford mall.
Wednesday morning, they learned that the vehicle had been found, destroyed by fire, on the Six Nations reserve.
Since then, their story has reached large audiences.
Meghan Gardecki says offers to donate wheelchairs and money have been coming in from across the province.
“There are so many good people,” she said in an interview.
Unfortunately, none of the wheelchairs offered to them will work for their needs.
While Isaiah has not been formally diagnosed, his mother says that his symptoms are very similar to those of a child with severe cerebral palsy.
In addition to being non-verbal and unable to eat through his mouth, he is unable to even sit up on his own.
When not in a wheelchair, he must be held by a parent or caregiver.
Typically, it takes several months for the process of measuring Isaiah for a wheelchair, then building and delivering the wheelchair, to be complete.
The first measurement for Isaiah’s new chair is expected to take place next week.
In the meantime, people at McMaster Children’s Hospital are working to put together a temporary solution for him.
Police say they continue to investigate the theft of the Galeckis’ vehicle, but have little new to share publicly.
