Villa Park company offers gift better than 'Idol'
Though local and former “American Idol” contestant Chris Medina and his fiancee had another emotional moment Wednesday in Villa Park, everyone held back the J.Lo-level tears.
Instead, Medina and fiancee Juliana Ramos were beaming when the Oak Forest couple visited MobilityWorks in Villa Park to receive a wheelchair-accessible van.
After seeing their story on “Idol” that detailed Ramos' traumatic brain injury following a 2009 car accident, the specialty dealership and its manufacturer, The Braun Corp., were inspired to help.
“It means the world to us if she wants to go to a restaurant ... if she wants to do anything,” said Medina. “Words don't cut this kind of generosity. It won't be like, ‘Maybe we can go out tomorrow, maybe we can go see whoever tomorrow.' Now it's like, ‘What's stopping us?'”
The pair's story touched audiences this season and brought judge Jennifer Lopez to tears when she had to cut Medina from the Top 24. After her accident, Ramos suffered injuries to her face and struggles with speaking and muscle control, and now must use a wheelchair. The couple formerly sang in a band together.
The brand new 2010 Chrysler Town & Country is customized to fit Ramos' wheelchair and is tailored for other needs, like where she is comfortable sitting. MobilityWorks general manager Todd Navarrete said the van retails for about $40,000, but it was important to donate the vehicle.
“We really introduce our employees to get active about what's going on in this community, and this is a great way to turn those words into action,” he said.
Medina said the van is one of the first of many items on his “checklist” he must fulfill to care for Ramos, who was also accompanied by her mom and stepfather, Janet and Don Barnes, on Wednesday.
“To go from a guy who went from making $8.50 per hour at Starbucks and wondering how I'm going to take care of my fiancee to this, it's a dream come true,” he said.
Medina said he initially worried about backlash for sharing their story, “that people would say I used her.” But he insists he would do it over again because of the help it has gained them and awareness it has created.
Medina plans to continue his music career with events like tonight's performance at the Rialto Theater in Joliet, where he will perform his new single, “What Are Words?”
Braun President Nick Gutwein said he agrees the larger issue of accessibility for people with disabilities is important, which is why his company got on board with the donation.
“We need, as a society and country, to provide the equipment and the infrastructure for them to do the same things everyone else does, ” he said.