METAIRIE, La. — A Jefferson Parish woman suffering from Multiple Sclerosis is desperately looking for her custom-made wheelchair after it disappeared from her sister's driveway in the 500 block of Andrews Avenue in Metairie, La., on Saturday evening.
According to the mother of the woman, the $15,000 chair was manufactured with a metallic blue frame by Quickie Wheelchairs and specially designed to accommodate her 44-year-old daughter Leigh-Ann Mattix's long legs.
The chair, which she picked up in Shreveport 19 years ago following the fallout of Hurricane Katrina, also features a custom $700 seat cushion.
"We are not sure if someone took it on purpose or by accident, but my daughter desperately needs it," said Mattix's mother, Kay Pendergrass, who told WWL Louisiana that deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said someone may have mistaken it for trash after it maybe rolled down the driveway toward the curb.
"The wheelchair cost over $15k and she does not have the means to replace it."
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In the meantime, a GoFundMe entitled "Donate to Restore Mobility For Leigh-Ann After Theft" was launched to raise money to replace the wheelchair in case the original one is not found.
"We're seeking help to find whoever stole it or may have taken it, thinking it was trash," pleaded Pendergrass.
Mattix's sister Ashley Jones created the GoFundMe and posted the following:
"My name is Ashley and I am starting this go fund me because my sister's wheelchair was taken from my home last night. Leigh-Ann has MS (multiple sclerosis) and this is her only way to leave the house. She has had two hip surgeries before she had to endure a hip replacement. A few year later that hip was recalled and she had to have a second hip replacement. Due to this she has severe pain in her hip and legs. She had this wheelchair custom made for her hip to knee length. The cushion alone was almost $700. This is her only want to leave the house and do things with her niece and nephew who are obsessed with her. We are completely heartbroken with the ramifications of losing her chair and can't begin to be able to afford to replace it. Any donation is appreciated. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, we truly appreciate it."
As of 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the goal of $15K had been reached following a $13,000 donation.
"I am eternally grateful to everyone who donated – particularly to Derrell Plaisance," Pendergrass told WWL following the donation. "His donation is life-changing for Leigh-Ann and I'm in tears of gratitude for my daughter. I love our community."
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The family is also offering a $1,000 cash reward for the wheelchair's safe return.
Anyone with information regarding the wheelchair's whereabouts can contact Leigh-Ann Mattix's family by clicking here.
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