It took a shared misfortune to introduce Lori Carbajal to Barbara Andrews, but on Wednesday, the women from separate sides of the United States turned their tragedies into hope.
With the help of a few generous people around the country, Andrews and the Brain Injury Association of Texas presented Carbajal with a wheelchair, van, car seat and $4,000 to benefit her 6-year-old son who suffers from shaken baby syndrome.
When Carbajal's son, Daniel, whom she refers to as "Peanut," was less than four months old, his father shook and beat him, inducing permanent brain damage and leaving him with the mentality of a 6-month-old. His father is in jail, serving a 99-year sentence.
Caring for Peanut became more difficult in early November when an unknown hit-and-run driver totaled Carbajal's van, crushing Peanut's $8,000 wheelchair in the process. The family has been living off the $625 a month Peanut receives in benefits.
"It's a struggle to get him anywhere," Carbajal said. "Peanut suffers from blindness, he has seizures and developmental problems, and he can't do anything on his own. The chair is his livelihood. He even has a special chair to help him bathe."
Since the accident, his mother has carried her 40-pound boy to all his appointments, in and out of bed, and anywhere else he needs to go.
"He's not a peanut anymore," said Carbajal, as she shifted her son's weight to her hip, wrapping his blanket tighter.
Carbajal has worked with the Brain Injury Association for the past few years while advocating for the passage of a bill that now requires maternity and delivery centers to inform expecting parents of the dangers associated with shaken baby syndrome.
"It is a rare and remarkable individual who can endure such a personal, human tragedy and then have the grace and bravery to take action so other babies can be safe," said Eric Makowski, the associaton's president.
As soon as he learned the details of Carbajal's accident, he posted them on the association's Web site.
In New Hampshire, Barbara Andrews and her husband read those details and knew they could help. The couple's granddaughter, Chrissy, was also shaken as an infant. Andrews had just purchased a brand new wheelchair and car seat for Chrissy, who died suddenly at age 13.
Andrews contacted Makowski, who set up the details with FedEx to ship the 400 pounds of equipment for free. He also arranged a flight so Andrews could meet the family who will carry on Chrissy Andrews' memory.
"The moment she put Peanut in that chair, he started smiling, so you know Chrissy is here," said Andrews, who pinned a guardian angel to the top of the wheelchair that bears Chrissy's name. "I cried when the chair left the house - and again when they opened it, but the moment they put him in the chair, it was all worth it."
Austinites were receptive to Peanut's story as well. Makowski received more than $4,000 in donations for the family and three van donation offers before finding the vehicle that met Peanut's needs.
When the 1999 Ford E-150 van was donated, the car and wheelchair lift were not functioning. Paul Saustrup, an auto mechanic instructor at Austin Community College, was able to get the van working in time to present it to the Carbajal family with the medical equipment.
"We practically had to throw out the kitchen sink," he said as he described replacing everything from the tailpipe to the windshield wipers. "Thanks to some students who are willing to form Peanut's Gang, we'll be able to take care of any car care this family needs."
Peanut laughed and waved his hands in the air as his mother pushed his chair onto the lift for his first ride in the new car.
"It's amazing that something so tragic can turn into something so wonderful," said Carbajal with tears in her eyes. "The endless generosity of people shows me that Peanut has charmed more people than I can even imagine. This is more than a miracle. It's life changing."
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