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SALT LAKE CITY — Every day things get 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 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. “What goes through your head when you’re actually doing this, and seeing there is a need, and you’re taking from that?”
Police believe the wheelchair was stolen, then scrapped for its parts. The thief left behind the oxygen tanks that were next to it.
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 is now getting used to his new wheels the company donated to him.
“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.”
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.
Wheelchair stolen from service missionary with genetic disorder
A rare genetic disorder has partially stolen the breath of a young man in Salt Lake City. A personalized wheelchair gave him freedom until that was stolen, too.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 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.
