Father's love revealed through fight for son's life By SUE AZZARELLO, Special to the Herald-Star One man's faith in God bolsters his unwavering quest to help his disabled son have a life.
Steve Sakac of Fairfax, Va., has spent the past 17 years caring for his 33-year-old son, Tony, who, at age 16, contracted Lyme disease on a field trip after being bitten by a tick.
According to Steve, Tony was in worse shape than Terri Schiavo in the beginning of his ordeal, and his doctors at the time told him it would be best to just let Tony die and donate his organs. Steve refused to give in and, over time, has helped Tony slowly improve, which is why the determined father and son traveled to Florida when the Schiavo case played out in the national media last year.
Schiavo, a 41-year-old woman left incapable of caring for herself or communicating for 15 years, died in March 2005 after being at the center of a storm over who had the right to remove the feeding tube that kept her alive.
Tony at one time also was declared ``brain dead'' and was on a respirator. Steve wanted the medical world to see how far Tony has come and support Schiavo's family in their fight. During Schiavo's ordeal, Steve and Tony stayed in the hot sun together to protest the decision to remove her from a feeding tube.
While participating in the protest, Steve met Steubenville resident David Vogel, a pro-life Christian who does missionary work to help others and is now making a documentary about the Sakacs.
''This man loves his son so much. He does anything and everything for him, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,'' Vogel said. ``He never stops. His son was worse off than Terri Schiavo was and, with his father's constant help and love, Tony has gotten a lot better. They just want people to know they don't have to give up'' when faced with similar circumstances.
''My son makes steps now,'' said Steve, who was born in Yugoslavia and still speaks with an accent.
Steve and Tony are staying in Weirton at the Holiday Inn on Three Springs Drive while recording their story with Vogel.
They've been traveling from place to place in Steve's old station wagon that has serious engine problems and keeps breaking down.
Like their car, Tony's wheelchair is worn from years of use. So, while in their travels, the father and son have stopped at some churches along the way to pray and ask for donations to buy medical supplies, such as a better wheelchair, a new brace for Tony's leg and a special shoe he has outgrown.
While in the Weirton area, Vogel suggested that Tony and Steve go to the Treasure Island Flea Market in Wintersville to see if people there would help. Open to ideas, they did. Steve stood next to Tony and put out a box for monetary gifts. They were there for a while when a Wintersville family, Bonnie and Don Springer and their son Glen, who has cerebral palsy, walked by.
''I put some money in the box and kept walking,'' Bonnie said. ``Then something told me to go back. I don't know what it was, but something told me to go back to them. I stood there and looked at Tony's wheelchair. All of a sudden, I remembered we had gotten one like it for my son a long time ago. We had never used it. It was brand new and stored away. We were going to refurbish it for my son, who has cerebral palsy, but we never did, so I said to my husband, `let's go home and get that chair and give it to them.'''
They told Steve they would be back with a new wheelchair, and about a half hour later, they returned with one that was similar to the one Tony was using, only it was brand new and an upgraded model.
The Springers' gift would have cost Steve between $6,000 and $7,000.
''I'm so excited!'' Steve said. ``I thank God! I couldn't believe it! I'm so thankful in my heart that I'm falling to pieces!''
''God works in mysterious ways,'' Vogel said.
The Springers' son, Glen, also was excited to help someone else.
''He kept smiling and was so happy to give the wheelchair to Tony,'' Bonnie said. ``He kept saying, `God told us to go to the flea market!'''
Vogel said now that they have the much-needed wheelchair, they are going to try to raise money for the special brace and shoe Tony needs, and also a better vehicle.
''Right now, Steve has a small station wagon that he physically has to lift Tony in and out of. I'd really like to obtain a van with a wheelchair lift for them -- that's what we're praying for now,'' Vogel said. ``They also need someone who can adjust the new wheelchair for Tony so he'll fit in it properly. They really need that. Any help we can get from anyone will be greatly appreciated.''
Tony and Steve will be in Weirton at the Holiday Inn through Tuesday. [end quote]
posted
The doctors said to let him die of lyme disease and DONATE HIS ORGANS. Yikes.
Not clear from this story if the son is getting treatment for lyme. Just says he is getting better.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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posted
if anyone needs a wheel chair, crutches,etc. their are organizations that will loan you a wheel chair, etc., free of charge for the time you need it.
of course, donations are much appreciated, if and when you can afford it.
for example, the Lion's Club in my area provides such a service, although i don't know if all Lion's Clubs do this.
Posts: 2708 | Registered: Feb 2005
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Wow, Ann, what a wonderful story; thanks for sharing. Bettyg
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posted
I just read this story on lymeblog. Wow. What a story. I would like to know more.
RE: Wheel chairs. They are very difficult to get. I learned this first hand.
I need a power chair. I had insurance. I kept knocking on doors and in November of 2004, I was donated a power chair that is about 10 or 12 years old I think.
It has made a world of difference.
But, I do not know how much longer it will last me.
Other options if you have the funds is to purchase a used power chair that has not had much use.
For example: a power chair that is around $6,000 new will sale for around $2,500 as soon as it leaves the show room floor.
The controller on my power chair stopped at one point. I was told it would be $2,000 to fix it.
LIfts and vehicles to transport a power chair is another major expense.
I use the senior center van to get around in my local town when I am able.
I was surprised how expensive mobility equipment is as a special ed teacher and then when I ended up needing a power chair myself.
A friend recently had insurance provide a chair for her that is much like one that I need.
It reclines and supports the body and works well outdoors.
The cost of it was $36,000. New.
A used van with a lift is $31,000. The same used van would cost $14,000 without the built in lift.
Posts: 89 | From AZ | Registered: Mar 2006
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
Happy Camper, Thanks for all the $$ of what it costs for these items that we have been blessed NOT to need at this time. uffda! Bettyg
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tabbytamer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3159
posted
At least one of my doctors would prescribe a power chair for me and pretty sure it would be covered.
But it is getting that chair around that is the problem.
We have an older mini van. But no way could we afford to outfit it with a lift or pay for ramps.
It doesn't make sense to me that if the insurance is willing to pay the thousands for a new power chair, why they will not at least cover a few hundred for van ramps
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