Prom plans secured after community gifts teen new wheelchair


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KEARNS — Each night Tyson Howick would lock his motorized chair to a railing outside his Kearns home with a chain. Last Friday morning he awoke to find the chain broken and his wheelchair gone. He's been looking for it ever since.

The 16-year-old loves to dance, and in his old chair he was well-supported, making it fairly easy.

"I had been practicing in my room before the chair got stolen," he said.

For the past few days, dance practice has been on the living room couch. He had been hoping to improve his moves because of a very important dance coming up.

"On the 28th is the Junior Prom," he explained. "I can't go unless my chair can be found."

He already has a date, just not the wheels.

"It had lights on it that helped me see in the dark and had blinkers on it," he said. "It was worth a lot of money."

Tyson's mother, Melanie Hansen estimated the chair to be worth about $15,000.

Tyson was born with a neurological disability. Without his chair, the school dance is just one of the things he wouldn't be a part of.

Although the chair Tyson loves so much still hasn't been found, two non-profit groups heard his story, and on Wednesday they pitched in to get him a new ride.

Tyson took the new chair out for a test ride in the driveway of his Kearns home.

"I'm just so thankful," Hansen said through tears. "Thank you. I'm so happy."

The generosity didn't stop there. Western Home Depot is donating a locked shed to the family so each night Tyson can lock it away safely.

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Ashley Kewish

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