INDIANAPOLIS -- A repaired wheelchair is finally on its way to an Indianapolis teen who needs the chair to get to daily rehab appointments and medical care.
A shooting left DeAndre Knox, a former football player and honor roll student, a quadriplegic. No arrest has been made.
Knox is growing and his chair is not keeping up. His mother said they needed to kick it to get it to brake.
"To see him in a wheelchair that is not fit for his body, but because I don't have $15,000 to purchase a new one because I'm not wealthy, " said DeAndra Yates, Knox's mother.
The chair is covered by Medicaid but the rules say it can only be replaced every five years. Knox is not eligible for a new one until at least the year 2019.
Requests for a new chair have been denied as well as multiple requests to repair Knox's current chair.
"Him having a working wheelchair is critical because he could have further injury if not in a working chair," said Yates.
Call 6 Investigates made the state aware of Knox's situation back in July, and Family and Social Services worked with the vendor to look into the problem while Knox used a back-up chair.
The chair was repaired but when it was delivered in September, it would not tilt, so it was sent back.
"My son has so much fight in him. So might fight in him. How could I have the audacity to give up?" said Yates.
Knox's repaired chair is expected to be delivered Friday to the health care center in Illinois where he lives and receives care.
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