His family says someone mistakenly took it from their unincorporated West Palm Beach home’s front yard and the 5-year-old desperately needs it back.
Jesus Gabriel went everywhere with his custom-made wheelchair. His uncle, Eddie Velasquez says spina bifida makes it nearly impossible otherwise.
“Now that he doesn’t have his chair, he won’t be able to go to school anymore,” Eddie said.
At school, he’s in speech therapy, learning Spanish and English. It’s where his friends are. He really does love it.
Every morning to catch the 7 a.m. bus Jesus’ mom first brings his wheelchair and puts next to the street then she goes back inside to get Jesus. Thursday morning when she had Jesus and brought him back out, the wheelchair was gone. Only a few minutes had gone by.
“We were thinking that maybe someone was playing a joke, hiding it, you know?” Eddie said. “She was looking for it and couldn’t find it, it’s serious, you know. Someone took it and wasn’t going to return it.”
Eddie says the specialty made chair is worth about $2,000. It truly is priceless though.
“Hopefully somebody watching will return it,” Eddie said.
If you know where the chair is or have information that could help call Eddie: 561-201-4668.
We also reached out to the Solid Waste Authority, who told us they are checking with their contracted hauler to see if they picked up the wheelchair Thursday.
We have already heard from someone who wants to remain anonymous who says they will buy a new chair for Jesus.