Single Mom's Van for Special Needs Daughter Destroyed in Crash, Then Stranger Shows Up
Getting around was never easy for Kathleen Eastland and her daughter. The 12-year-old has cerebral palsy, which can make the simple things in life difficult.
A specially designed van was the backbone of Eastland’s transportation. When the van was totaled in a crash, she wasn’t left with many options.
The only thing Eastland could do was try to convert a van she borrowed to fit her needs.
She pieced together a lift for her daughter, but the roof was far too low to be considered safe.
“I just want my daughter to be safe in a vehicle,” she said. “I don’t want her back to hurt.”
April, Eastland’s daughter, feels the effects of the lost van as well. She needs it to get to school and wheelchair soccer practice.
Eastland doesn’t have much money, so she decided to choose the cheapest insurance plan she could. She didn’t realize that the coverage wasn’t enough for her until it was too late.
“Check your policy,” Eastland advised. “Make sure you have coverage so this kind of thing doesn’t happen to them.”
News station KTVU aired this tragic story, but what they didn’t know was that one of their viewers would jump into action.
Lou Hanhan owns a nearby body shop and saw the news report on TV.
He just so happened to have a van he was planning on selling anyway. “As soon as I saw it, I knew right away. There wasn’t nothing to think about.” Hanhan said.
The van is complete with a fully-functional lift for April’s wheelchair and a DVD player. “You have the buttons to play it, fast forward,” Vlad Mikshansky explained to April.
“It would be so much fun. I feel like it would be good on road trips,” April said of the van.
“I just want to say thank you for everyone’s help. It’s really touched my heart. Thank you,” Eastland said.
She got full coverage on the van, so she’s sure to avoid the same problem she ran into last time.
“I’ve learned that no matter the situation, you have to look on the bright side,” April said — and she couldn’t be more right.
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