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Van given to injured wrestler
by Charles S. Williams
(Photo caption) Charles S. Williams/staff photo-Harley Hendrix, center, and his parents, Donnie and Laura Perry (behind Hendrix) were presented with a van equipped with a wheelchair lift on Tuesday. Supporters of the effort who attended the ceremony were, left to right, Rick Cobb, deputy director of North American Projects for Samaritan's Purse; Jamie McBride, a financial planner; Phil Stevens, owner of Specialty Automotive; Dr. Tim Van Noy, the Perry family pediatrician who headed the effort to secure the van; and Tammy and Todd Whitworth of Window World.
On Saturday, March 21, 2009, the life of 17-year-old Harley Hendrix changed forever in the blink of an eye.
While competing in the semi-finals of the 135-pound division of the Southern National AAU Wrestling Tournament in Concord, Hendrix was wrapped up by his opponent and fell to the mat. Since he was not able to use his hands to break the fall, his head sustained the brunt of the impact.
The fall dislocated the C5 and C6 vertebrae in the young athlete's neck and left him paralyzed from the chest down. He has regained use of his arms, and is gaining strength in his hands but is confined to a wheelchair.
Travel problems for family
After the accident, Hendrix remained a patient at the Children's Hospital of the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte until May 8. He was able to secure a motorized wheelchair through Medicaid. The family, however, had only a sedan for travel, and his wheelchair was strapped to a platform on the rear and covered with a tarp.
In September, Hendrix (now 18) was attending a soccer game at West Wilkes Middle School in which his sister, Aubrey Perry, was playing. Aubrey had always attended her brother's wrestling matches, so he made sure to attend her games.
Dr. Tim Van Noy, who has been the pediatrician for the Perry family for 12 years and for Hendrix for the past two years since his adoption, arrived early for the second game, in which his son was playing.
"The soccer field at West Middle is at the bottom of a hill, but Harley and his family had parked at the top of the hill," Van Noy recalled. "The sky was ominous as a big storm was moving in."
"We took shelter from the rain in a dugout," said Laura Perry, Harley's mother. "There we were in a lightning storm, under a metal roof with Harley in a metal chair. It was not the best of times."
By the time they got back to the car, everyone was soaked. To make matters worse, the tarp used to cover the chair was at home.
"Right then and there, I decided that they needed a van," said Van Noy. "I tried to buy one for them on my own but it didn't work out. That's when I called some friends."
One of the first calls was to Todd Whitworth, the president and chief executive officer of Window World Inc., the country's largest replacement window company that is headquartered in North Wilkesboro and has 215 locations around the country. Whitworth and his wife, Tammy, agreed to help through their foundation, Window World Cares.
Whitworth explained, "We started Window World Cares to help children. We've donated over $700,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I was born and raised in Wilkes, and we are proud to be a Wilkes company, and to be able to help people here."
Also agreeing to help were Eddie and Mark Vannoy of Vannoy Construction in West Jefferson; Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization with a warehouse just down Shaver Street from Window World; Specialty Car Company; Larry and Diane Stone; Wilkes Pediatrics (Van Noy's practice); Jamie McBride; Lee Herring; and Arnold and Becky Lakey.
Phil Stevens, the owner of Specialty Automotive in North Wilkesboro, located a 2007 Chevrolet van outfitted with a wheelchair ramp and owned by the Stones that had only 10,000 miles on the odometer.
Van presented to Hendrix
The keys to the van were presented to Hendrix and his parents, Laura and Donnie Perry, at the Window World offices on Tuesday. The group also paid for registration and license tags.
"I appreciate all that you have done for us," Mrs. Perry told those attending the outdoor ceremony. "This is awesome, and Tim has been so wonderful. We will be able to get all members of the family in the van to take trips."
The Perrys have three children of their own and have adopted not only Harley but his three siblings: Justin, 7; Erwin, 8; and Destiny, 5.
Mrs. Perry took early retirement from Lowe's Companies in March to spend time with Harley.
"I'm very grateful," said Hendrix after accepting the keys. "This will allow me to travel much easier than before. Tim has been a good friend, and I appreciate all that everyone has done."
Among the trips that are planned are weekly journeys to Charlotte to compete in wheelchair rugby, an indoor sport which combines elements of wheelchair basketball, ice hockey, handball and, of course, rugby. The teenager was introduced to the sport by a therapist. He has an all-metal wheelchair outfitted with special wheels and protective "bumpers."
Hendrix also makes two or three trips each week to the "Race to Walk" gym in Mooresville, a facility not covered by insurance but trained to work with spinal cord injury clients and help them regain strength, mobility and independence.
Hand controls for van
Plans are to have hand controls installed on the van so that Hendrix can drive the vehicle. At some point, he said, he hopes to also have controls placed on his personal car, a Camaro.
Hendrix graduated from West Wilkes High School this year and hopes to continue his studies at Wilkes Community College.
Van Noy commented, "Harley has made tremendous progress. At first we didn't think he would be able to move. He can move his arms, and he is beginning to use his hands."
Van Noy added, "he can even text...probably better than I can. He has tremendous character and a contagious smile. I'm delighted to be able to help."
The Rev. Mark Reavill, pastor of Dunkirk United Methodist Church, Harley's father, and helpers from the community are adding a room onto the home for the teenager. Once the room is completed, Vannoy Construction will install a large flat screen television. |
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