Elgin wheelchair theft victim now loses mother

In the fall, people in Elgin and surrounding towns rallied around Natalie Chastain, an Elgin High School senior whose specialized wheelchair was stolen.

Now, they are coming to Chastain's aid again — she recently lost her mother, Mary, unexpectedly.

Chastain's teachers have launched a fundraising drive to make sure that as Chastain's family copes with the loss, Natalie has the equipment she needs to get around and the resources she needs to fulfill her dream of attending college.

“She's an incredible adapter,” said Kevin Gallery, Chastain's English teacher at Elgin High. “She's adjusted incredibly well. She's continued to show up and have a smile on her face. She's very focused on her future. She knows that education is the key for her.”

Gallery, along with other teachers at Elgin High, have started to collect money for Chastain and her family through a special fund at the high school. As with the lost wheelchair, Gallery said the response has been “overwhelming.”

“The e-mail that I sent went viral,” he said. “I'm getting unbelievable responses.”

To donate, send a check payable to “Elgin High School” to the school, Attn: Sally Staak, 1200 Maroon Drive, Elgin, IL 60120. Include “Natalie Chastain” on the memo line.

As part of the fundraising drive, Elgin Lanes, 401 Shepard Drive, is hosting a fundraiser for Chastain at 6:30 p.m. March 18. The event is sponsored by the Wisdom Foundation, a frequent donor to Elgin-area schools.

Chastain first attracted the community's attention in September 2010, when her wheelchair was stolen from the driveway of her Elgin home. Chastain has cerebral palsy and needs expensive equipment to get around and communicate.

In the following days, the Chastains were flooded with offers of help, with one local business offering to donate a new chair customized to Natalie's needs. Before that happened, the chair was returned.

Chastain's teachers say she and her family are moved by the support they've received in the two weeks since Gallery and his colleagues started the fundraising drive.

“They've been writing thank-you notes left and right,” said Teri Rosenberg, Natalie's case manager. “It's really touched their heart to see how they've pulled together for her.”

Chastain's teachers hope to use the money they raise to cover the cost of an accessible van for Natalie. Beyond that, they will apply the funds toward technology she will need in college, as well as the cost of tuition.

Chastain hasn't yet decided on what school she will attend, but she is considering Elgin Community College and Southern Illinois University, her teachers said. Despite her grief, she is still focused on obtaining a four-year degree in hopes of designing buildings that are accessible for people with disabilities.

“It's been very difficult for her,” said Rosenberg, who has worked with Chastain for four years. “For any young lady, to lose your mom at such a young age is hard.”

But she added: “She has got determination to succeed despite her disability. … She's got the spirit to be able to continue on.”