By Beth David, Editor
Little Gwendolyn (aka “Gwennie”) cannot walk at all. And now that she’s getting bigger, pushing 40 pounds at four years old, she’s getting kind of heavy for her parents to pick her up. She needs a wheelchair now, so when the Fairhaven Firefighters asked if they could use a wheelchair ramp in front of the house, Gwennie’s mom did not hesitate.
“We were so happy, we said absolutely yes,” said Jennifer Brengle, meaning her and her husband Sebastian.
The pandemic, with its work restrictions, also did not help last year. Mr. Brengle works at the Seaport Inn as a bartender, so he was out of work for awhile. He’s back now, but it’s still kind of slow, certainly not as busy as a normal summer. Ms. Brengle works as a speech therapist.
She said the family moved from a second floor apartment to a ranch in Fairhaven, making it easier to take Gwennie out. But it was still difficult. Gwendolyn has a neurological disorder that severly restricts her mobility and her speech. The ramp will make it much easier.
She’ll be able to go to the zoo with her cousins.
“They dote on her,” said Ms. Brengle. “They love her. She’s everybody’s baby.”
Gwendolyn loves Harry Potter, listening to stories, and her favorite TV shows. With the weather getting warmer, they will definitely go to the beach.
“She likes the water,” said Ms. Brengle.
All of that will be easier because of the ramp, and a wheelchair van that they are hoping to get soon.
Firefighter/Paramedic Kevin Gonsalves, Jr., who is the new president of the Firefighters union, Local 1555 said they saw a local news report on Gwendolyn’s challenges, including the lack of a ramp at her house, and decided the union could help. They have built a couple of ramps over the years for other families who needed them.
Mr. Gonsalves was quick to thank local businesses that donated materials, including A. Medeiros Construction, Fairhaven Lumber, and L&S Concrete.
Mr. Gonsalves said that the union members want to be more active in the community. They helped with the BMX pump track spruce up day and worked on some beach cleanups. He said they have a big year planned, and people will see them out in the community a lot.
“It’s important to get out there and help,” said Mr. Gonsalves. “We’re not only about ambulance runs. We’re about community.”
Find the union on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/local1555 or by email at FairhaveFirefighters@gmail.com
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