In May of 1992, Fred suffered a back injury that necessitated intense physical therapy. Over the course of time, as Fred's injury didn't respond to the therapy in a positive way, he underwent the surgical implantation of stabilizing rods in his spine. Later, he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a stiffening of the spinal column that results in incredible pain and loss of mobility due to progressive nerve damage.

Up until the time of his diagnosis, Fred was an active industrial arts professor at the post-secondary level. However, as time progressed and his pain and extent of disability worsened, Fred came to realize that he could no longer continue to teach and, sadly, opted for retirement. This, says Fred, became the lowest point of his life. Suddenly, he had too much time on his hands, an advancing disability, and a dormant dream of travel that seemed all but unreachable. For Fred Pursley was, as he says, virtually "homebound."

Fred continues, "That was the darkest time of my life. I was basically living in a recliner from 1992. But I am a dreamer; a big dreamer. And in those dark days, to get me through, I would dream of a way to travel comfortably."

Fred's first taste of freedom came in the form of a Pride 3-wheel Legend Scooter from Arden's Medical in Seminole, Florida. Fred stresses his appreciation of his Legend to this day. He says, "My Legend still serves me well and I use it quite often here at home. I'm even looking to upgrade to a new Celebrity XL. Still, my seating needs progressed and I was also giving a lot of thought to how to make my travel plans work. I knew I wanted something with a tighter turning radius and the ability to take a custom seat that will keep me as pain-free as possible. So, I went back to Arden's and explained my needs and they recommended the Jazzy."

Fred elaborates even further, "Dianne (Belcher, Owner), Sonny (Howell, Owner), Aaron (Belcher, Floor Manager), and Tim (Glim, Tech Service Manager) of Arden's have been angels to me. Between them and the Jazzy, they've given me my life back; opened up the world to me. I feel unstoppable!"

Dianne mirrors Fred's enthusiasm for the Jazzy. She says, "There were many considerations when we were working with Fred. We had to take into account the duration of time he spends in the chair, the chair's compatibility with his medical needs and his comfort was a real factor. We knew that he would need a tilt seating system and specialty seat cushions to help relieve pressure and pain. We just knew that Fred could really benefit from a Jazzy customized with these features."

Fred states that the Jazzy was indeed the right choice. He says, "My favorite feature is the comfort it gives me but there are so many features that I love. It gets me on the road! It turns on a dime. People marvel at it. I can turn around easily in an elevator. I take it on nature trails—it's really an all-terrain vehicle. I love the maneuverability and responsiveness. The adjustability of power is great in crowds. It's reliable and the aesthetics are so impressive—it looks great! And…I got all these features without having to spend $50,000 (‘A slight exaggeration,' says Fred, ‘but not too far off from what I hear about other chairs!'). I really just appreciate the overall aspect. The Jazzy is truly a miracle."

And that miracle has prompted an even bigger miracle. Fred's dream of travel is no longer a distant goal. Rather, with his "trusty Jazzy" it is something he pursues with a childlike delight. He says, "In the past year, I've visited Vegas, Columbus, Ohio for an A.O.L (America Online) gathering, flown extensively, took a cruise to Anchorage, Alaska with stops in several ports of call including Vancouver, British Columbia. Then this spring, I'm off to the Panama Canal and perhaps the Mexican Riviera."

Dianne of Arden's Medical says nothing could make her happier than to hear of Fred's accomplishments and to be a part of them. She states, "Fred has such a zest for life. I tell you what, he grabs it and runs with it! It is such a satisfying experience to work with him. I get goosebumps when he talks about his freedom and independence with the Jazzy. He has such a tremendous enthusiasm and he is literally unstoppable. It is like witnessing a rebirth; seeing him come back to life!"

She continues, "This is what it's all about. It is just so rewarding on an emotional and personal level to see someone really benefit from the Jazzy in this way."

Fred has a word or two of his own to share when it comes to the rewards the Jazzy has brought into his life. When asked about his decision to purchase his Jazzy out-of-pocket and the inevitable question…was it worth it? Fred takes a long, satisfying breath and says in the voice of a truly contented man, "You take a look at these pictures and tell me!"

Please Note: You may reach Dianne Belcher, Sonny Howell, Aaron Belcher and Tim Glim at Arden's Medical, 7894 Seminole Mall, Seminole, Florida, 33772. Their phone numbers are (727) 397-1713 and (800) 850-1808 or email Ardensmedi@aol.com .