'You Can Fly From A Wheelchair': Doylestown Couple Gets New Supports, But Still Needs $55K

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Kevin and Jane Sebesky are extremely grateful.

"We just want everyone to know how much we appreciate all of their support — the kind words, the donations big or small, the meals neighbors have brought us, everything," Jane said in a phone interview with Patch last week.

Kevin added, "If it weren’t for that, it would be very easy to dig a hole and never get out of it."

The couple has had a difficult year — Kevin spent September through December in the hospital with a spine infection that rendered him paralyzed from the waist down. While a GoFundMe created by their kids has been helping the couple navigate their new normal, they still have around $100,000 of current and forthcoming expenses in the form of a new wheelchair, an accessible van, home modifications, in-home care, and medical bills to sort through.

But there have been upsides, too — since Patch caught up with them in February, Kevin's new wheelchair arrived. The new chair allows him far greater mobility, including a seat that can raise and lower.

"It’s such a step up from the last one, it’s incredible," he said. "It’s going to make my life a lot easier."

Kevin is also optimistic about returning to some of his favorite hobbies. He loves flying remote-controlled airplanes — after undergoing many health struggles and surgeries over the past seven years that have left him feeling isolated at times, flying presented an opportunity for real freedom while also devoting himself to a craft.

Following his recent paralysis and time in the hospital, he reached out to a group he's part of called Sky Pirates to let them know why he hadn't been showing up to the fields to fly.

One man, Tim Frank, responded with a number of resources on flying from a wheelchair.

"The flying, it really keeps me going," Sebesky said, expressing his gratitude for Frank's message. "He just was being helpful to a fellow sky pirate."

He is also starting outpatient physical and occupational therapy — and while that will probably mean more difficult exercises than what he's been able to do at home, he's hopeful about taking the next steps toward walking again.

"I’m kind of looking forward to it because I hit all my goals for home care," he said.

When he started physical therapy, Kevin's therapist told him there was a 60 to 70 percent chance he would walk again. That took him aback, because he'd previously been certain he would regain that level of mobility.

Then at their last session — while she said she wouldn't normally do this — she gave him a card saying she had "100 percent faith" he would walk again.

"It made me feel good, and it made me feel like I’m ready to go to outpatient and begin the next step, and really get down to business on making myself well," he said.

But the twists and turns have also kept coming.

Jane bought a used van in March, which passed inspection and seemed ready to use. Then, after she brought it home, the vehicle began rocking and driving erratically.

She brought the van to Fred Beans, where she said Jerry was "unbelievable."

"I went in there and just started crying, because I felt like I used money that people donated and I made a bad decision," she said. While the mechanic originally told her he couldn't look at the car until May, they decided to poke around and see what they could do.

It turned out to be a suspension problem — Fred Beans put in a temporary bolt and then referred the repair to MobilityWorks, where Kevin and Jane said George has been a lifesaver. While it would have taken a long time to order the part, he presented the couple with another solution.

"George called me and he said, 'I have a fabricator who can make the parts you need, and we’ll come pick the van up next Friday, work on it on Monday, and return it to you,'" Kevin said. "That’s above and beyond to make the van safe, and he was just really nice to deal with."

On top of the van complications, the home care agency Jane works for is merging with another agency — meaning health insurance packages will change.

"It’s going to be literally $12,000 extra per year for me to keep a comparable policy," she said. "After all that we’ve already put out for his care this year, it’s really disappointing."

The new expenses are adding to an already long list. And while Kevin and Jane's GoFundMe had raised $45,744 on Friday morning, that's still $54,256 short of their goal.

But true to form, the couple continue to rally — and both sound noticeably more energized whenever they talk about people who have been there for them.

Recently, they went to go for a walk around Chapman Park and met a man who was cleaning out the nearby utility shed.

"He saw I was in the chair and he just could not help himself — he was so enthusiastic about telling me that on April 30 they’re having a trout fishing day for handicapped people," Kevin said. "He said, 'we’ve got rods and reels and you have to come out, you’ll love it.'"

Kevin mused, "It’s just so kind. He saw me, saw that I was in a chair, and he just put himself out there. And I think I may go. It sounds like fun."

Those who wish to donate to Jane and Kevin Sebesky's GoFundMe can click here.

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