CLEVELAND (AP) — Christmas came early, and twice over, for a9-year-old Ohio boy whose wheelchair
was stolen from the family garagelast month.A wheelchair for everyday use and one specifically forwheelchair
basketball were presented to Stephen Gibson of Cleveland onFriday.They were given by health-care product
companies Invacare and Miller’s Rental and Sales.Stephen, a fourth-grader with cerebral palsy and scoliosis,
quickly said "yeah" when asked if he was happy with the gifts.Elyria-basedInvacare’s product
manager Sarah Brown reached out to the NortheastOhio Media Group after reading a story about the boy’s
ordeal."We’rejust really happy that we could make a difference in Stephen’s lifetoday and get him back
to doing the things a kid does," Brown said.Stephen’s original chair eventually made its way to
Cleveland police Nov. 15, but it was rickety and unusable.Building the new chairs spanned four factories,
three countries and two continents, Brown said.AnInvacare factory in France sent the light-up wheels
overnight to afactory in Canada, where workers built the everyday wheelchair. Hisbasketball chair was built
in a factory in Tampa, Fla. Both were thenshipped to Elyria."We knew Stephen really wanted light-up
casters," Brown said.In addition, Aimee Guzowski established Stephen’s Motorized Wheelchair
Fund.Guzowskisaid every dollar donated will help the family pay for necessaryupdates to their home when
Stephen is upgraded to a motorized wheelchairin a few months, due to his worsening scoliosis.At the end
ofthe day Friday, the fund had raised more than $2,000. Stephen’s mothersaid she has already received some
of the money.___Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.comCopyright 2013 The Associated
Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.