Alethia Buckley could hardly find the words to describe her joy and gratitude, as her Christmas wish of getting a special wheelchair for her son, who is afflicted with cerebral palsy, came true sooner than expected.

Within a week of publication of the Jamaica Observer story, ‘A mom’s major sacrifice to raise her ill child’ on December 11, Buckley received the wheelchair from the Mustard Seed Communities.

On the same day of the publication, Buckley reached out to the Observer in tears of joy, as she constantly received local and international calls from people who wanted to help.

When the Observer visited Buckley’s house in Tapper Hill, Rock Hall in St Andrew on Wednesday, her son Miguel Heslop threw his hands in the air while making loud noises in his wheelchair, seemingly excited for the gift.

“I didn’t expect to get the wheelchair so fast and I really appreciate it. I can’t even tell you how I feel.I was so happy for him, that there is no word to express how I feel right now,” said Buckley.

“I got a lot of phone calls over the last few days and I really appreciate everybody’s effort in reaching out,” she added.

She had mentioned that she was not able to carry Miguel around physically due to his weight and also since she was suffering from back pains.

She said the wheelchair will make a big difference, as she will now be able to attend to his care easier.

“Normally when I am outside washing, he would be inside, by himself, now he can be out here with me and if I have any family gathering, I can bring him with me. It’s much more convenient. Instead of having him and struggling in my hand to feed him, I can just adjust the chair to a certain level and he can just eat sitting up instead of lying down. His breathing improved too,” she said.

“I am so happy for him, because he can finally sit and relax. He doesn’t have to be dependent on somebody holding him up anymore as the wheelchair comes with straps to go across his chest, so that it holds him in place and he won’t be tilting over,” added Buckley.

She added that the team at Mustard Seed Communities, offered to make any adjustments needed to the wheelchair and to replace it once Miguel outgrew it.

Apart from the wheelchair, Buckley received bags of groceries, toiletries and cleaning agents from past and present Observer team members, among other donors.

She also received pampers, wipes and other items from a mother, referred to as ‘ TJ mom’ who lost her son who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

“TJ is her son who lived with cerebral palsy and he passed on and she wanted to assist Miguel. She said as long as she is alive, she will make sure Miguel doesn’t run out of pampers,” she said.