New Legs for Adam

       Adam Adray is one of the regulars at the Fuel Coffee House. He volunteers in different civic causes, he attends concerts, and he hangs out with the other regulars, discussing current events, carrying on conversations and cracking jokes. You can read more about this special place in the story entitled "Finding Friends at Fuel."

       The thing that's different about Adam is that he lost his legs in an accident when he was just 21 years old. For years, he used a manual wheelchair and pursued a successful career at Dell Computer. That came to an end when he wore out his shoulder and had to have it surgically repaired in 1999. The surgery was not enough to restore the full use of his arms, and Adam says that he never recovered his former stamina after the operation.

       Even though Adam  had to quit his job and apply for Social Security Disability, Dell got him a motorized wheelchair as a sort of "going away gift." The trouble is that it was a used wheelchair and designed for someone else. Adam didn't complain, and with periodic repairs he made the old chair last for ten years before he finally obtained a new chair from Medicare just over a year ago.

       Once again, there was a problem. Medicare was willing only to provide him with the most basic chair, and it just isn't adequate for Adam's active lifestyle. The old town of Llano wasn't designed with wheelchairs in mind anyway, and this particular chair is designed for  someone older and less adventurous than Adam, who is just 49 and very active.

       Now his friends are getting together to raise $8,000 for an chair that is actually suitable for Adam, instead of a bare-minimum chair designed for the homebound. It will feature the sturdier construction, higher clearance and longer range that Adam needs to live a more independent life.

        The fundraiser is off to a good start, but still has a long way to go. If you have even just a little to contribute, please send checks to "Mission U-Too," (the nonprofit which handles the "Free Burgers" tradition on Sunday afternoons and other charitable causes for Fuel Coffee House) at: Fuel Coffee House, 106 E. Main St. Llano, TX 78643.

       You'll be doing something good for Adam, but your generosity will definitely have ripple effects. For one thing, Adam has already chosen a worthy recipient for his old chair, an older lady with less need to travel. Also, Adam's abilities and humor will continue to bless his neighbors in Llano; with typical "Adam" wit, he speaks of someday becoming a "sit-down" comedian, and he's always ready to help friends with computer problems.

       A possible business enterprise for the future is an invention Adam made to help himself quit smoking last summer. It's a battery-operated "e-cigarette" which Adam says he hasn't yet named. "I might call it the Mama-Jama Evercool," he says with a smile. It never gets hot, but it emits a puff of flavored water vapor with a touch of nicotine, so people won't miss actual cigarettes. It sounds like it could be a winner!

UPDATE: As of December 20, The good people at Fuel Coffee House had raised enough to pay in full for the new wheel chair, and actually had to turn down another $1,000 donation! There are some good neighbors in this neighborhood of ours.

By John Hallowell

John Hallowell is the past editor of several Hill Country publications. He has been exploring the Texas Hill Country for almost 20 years.