Power Wheelchair Donated to Handicapped Child at NJ Nets Game

12/23/2004

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ - Last night a little girl received an irreplaceable gift that will make her everyday life easier. For Jane Millare, who was born with dwarfism and hydrocephalus, a condition where an abnormal amount of fluid builds up in her brain, a wheelchair is a crucial part of her everyday activities. She depends on her wheelchair to get her from place to place and it also allows her mother and nurse to keep her ventilator, voice machine, suction, etc. all in a central area so it is easily accessible for use at all times. With the help from NJ Nets star Richard Jefferson and various other key donors including Schwarz Medical and Mary's Foundation, Jane was presented with a brand new power wheelchair last night during half time at the NJ Nets game in Continental Arena.

Back in late October of this year, Jane Millare was on a hayride field trip with her school at a farm in Wyckoff. Immediately after the hayride she was instantly distraught when she went to get back into her wheelchair and found it destroyed. It wasn't long before they figured out that a car had run over the wheelchair and the driver had fled the scene. Jane and her family were beside themselves knowing that this wheelchair is a vital element of her everyday life. In an urgent matter, Jane's full time nurse, a former employee at Children's Specialized Hospital and Jane's nurse while she was an inpatient, reached out to the hospital for help. Children's Specialized Hospital loaned Jane a wheelchair until they could find a replacement for the old one. Through much research, they soon found out that the new power wheelchair she needed would cost them between $9,000 and $20,000. Knowing that it was unaffordable, Children's Specialized Hospital and Jane's Family reached out for some help. Just when they thought things were hopeless, unexpectedly Richard Jefferson from the NJ Nets reached out to the Nets Public Relations staff who in turn contacted Jane's mom and open-heartedly said he wanted to donate money towards her new wheelchair.

Between Richard Jefferson's donation along with Mary's Foundation and Schwarz Medical, the Millare's were able to get their daughter a power wheelchair that will meet her everyday needs. Jane can now "speed" around in her new custom fitted wheelchair and enjoy the luxury of being independently mobile.