Earth-shaking donation from local firm given to boy

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Earth-shaking donation from local firm given to boy

By LaRocco, Record-Journal staff (Conn.?)

http://www.record-journal.com/articles/2003/12/30/news/news07.txt

WALLINGFORD — Nine-year-old Quigg has muscular dystrophy and must

use a wheelchair most of the time, but thanks to ThermoSpas'

benevolence, his time out of it will now be far more enjoyable.

As part of the company's Season of Giving program, the New Milford boy

recently received an $11,000 state-of-the-art " healing spa " designed for

people with disabilities — giving his family hope that will spend

more time free of pain.

" We've had it just over a week, " said 's father, Quigg, " and

you can't wipe the smile off his face when he's in there. "

ThermoSpas, which has its headquarters on East Street, learned of the

Quigg family through 's bus driver, who wrote the company a letter

expressing her student's need for a therapeutic spa. Only a few weeks

later, the spa was being delivered to the family's home by its factory

technician, Steve Sabatini.

Now, has the option of exercising in the tub, having a full-range

of movement out of his wheelchair, or simply splashing around with his

brother — like any other 9-year-old.

" It's very emotional to watch a kid wheelchair-bound 90 percent of the

time just getting in the water and moving around with his brother like —

I'd hate to use the word — normal, " said Sabatini. " It was like there's

nothing wrong with him. "

The company, which claims to be both the largest retailer of hot tubs in

the world, and the only manufacturer in the country to sell directly to

the public, has held its Season of Giving program since May 2001,

according to spokeswoman Connolly. Each year, six recipients

are chosen nationwide to receive a tub. Winners must be under the age of

14, show a financial need, and have a debilitating condition, such as

muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

" We want to pick people who really need the warm-water therapy, "

Connolly said, " but couldn't get it otherwise. "

Quigg fit this qualification, and his father said that there would

have been no way he could have afforded such a tub on his own at this time.

" I just finished remodeling the house to make the entire thing barrier

free for wheelchairs, " Quigg said. " And this is something I would have

loved to have done too. "

Sabatini said he had met the Quigg family several time before delivering

the tub, but that his last visit was by far the most emotional.

" It was a real tear-jerker, " he said.

Quigg also said the event was a rush, calling it " incredible. "

So what does think of his new tub?

" I like it a lot, " he said.

plarocco@...

(203) 317-2225