Wheelchair lift could enrich life for local girl

Thirteen-year-old Serenity Skinner already knows she likes to go fast.

Serenity, who is a 7th grader at Black Water Middle School, has cerebral palsy and uses an electric wheelchair to get around. Until the Pawley's Island Masonic Lodge donated a lift van to her family last Christmas, she always had to be pushed in a traditional wheelchair whenever they went out of the house.

"I know how important it is to her," said Kimberly Johnson, Serenity's mom. "It was the first time she could take her wheelchair to her grandparent's house and drive herself around. Her grandmother said she was going around corners on two wheels. She's never been able to take that chair anywhere or have that kind of independence."

The lodge donated a refurbished van with all the bells and whistles to the family last Christmas, but the lift within the van was 20 years old, and unfortunately only lasted three months.

"She [had been] so ecstatic," Mrs. Johnson said. "We showed her new life and only three months later?"

Mrs. Johnson went through all the appropriate channels to try and get help fixing the van. Even Horry County Disabilities and Special Needs could not help, due to the advanced age of the van, she said.

She found Ilderton Conversions in Charleston that repaired vehicle lifts, but this one was too far gone, she said. A new lift had to be purchased, but Johnson did not have the funds to do so.

The owners of Ilderton knew a man in North Myrtle Beach who had recently purchased a new vehicle for his older daughter, and his current lift did not fit the new vehicle. This man's daughter was born with spina bifida, and said he knew what Serenity's family's situation was like, because he had been in their shoes. He was looking for someone to which to donate his ill-fitting lift. Lo and behold ? it would fit perfectly in Serenity's van.

"I had tears in my eyes," Mrs. Johnson said. "That strangers - people I never even met- cared. It touched my heart so much ? you see so much bad going on in our area?and to see people that have the heart to help you ? it touched my heart. We appreciate it to the fullest."

"It's a crazy story," said Mark Koehler, of the Pawleys Island Masonic Lodge. "...How everything has transpired."

Koehler, who is a physical therapy assistant and former mechanic, as well as a member of the Lodge, said he knew the process of getting the van and the lift was frustrating, and "the kids get the short end of the stick". He said it hurts his heart now to know that she does not have access to the van right now until the donated lift is installed.

"It's such an awesome thing for Serenity, for her to be able to go do the things she wants to do, things we take for granted, like just going to Wal-Mart," Koehler said.

Unfortunately the installation of the donated lift will cost the Johnson family $1,500.

With the help of the community, they have raised just under half of that money, but are still in need of the rest to be able to use the generously donated van to its full potential.

Skinner has always been very active in the community, having played baseball with the Miracle League, and having won an HTC Reel Kids award in the past as well. Having access to her power wheelchair and the independence to move around on her own again would enable her to continue to be as involved and do things for others.

Koehler said that because of Serenity, the lodge was considering the possibility of starting a 501c3 to do more of these types of things in the community.

"There is such a huge need for it for these kids," Koehler said. "You just don't know. It's so hard for them to get assistance, and it's not the kids' fault."

Skinner's family is closing in on their goal to get the new lift installed, but needs just a bit more help to reach the $1800 goal. Donations can be made here: https://www.gofundme.com/4qkhv0w?pc=fm_co_shareflow_a&rcid=159ac7d0775d47daa60f4c32f306ed9