'It's like driving a brand new Cadillac.' Ms. Wheelchair America's chair fixed after News 12 steps in
Latavia Sturdivant says she was homebound in pain for six weeks after Delta Airlines damaged her chair.
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After six weeks of being stuck at home, Ms. Wheelchair America is finally moving again.
Latavia Sturdivant, of Yonkers, says she feels like a new woman again now that her wheelchair is fixed.
"I can now get back to work, see my students... do my advocacy work, so I'm extremely grateful that it is up and running," Sturdivant says.
As News 12 first reported, Sturdivant, who has won Ms. Wheelchair America two years in a row, says she was homebound and in pain for weeks after Delta Airlines damaged her wheelchair in January.
"Had to miss work, had to miss advocacy events, had to just be home and so that takes a toll on you," Sturdivant says.
Sturdivant says she filed a claim with Delta to get the chair repaired, but her mom, Mary McMillan, says the service company she regularly uses initially wouldn't accept Delta's insurance until News 12 called them.
"Once you got involved...National Seating and Mobility in the Bronx was willing to accept the payment as a one time courtesy and so Latavia's chair was fixed on Monday," McMillan says.
Even though it's only been a few days, Sturdivant says she's already getting her life back.
"This is everything. These are my legs. Essentially, Delta broke my legs, and I was home for six weeks. It means freedom, it means mobility, it means independence," Sturdivant says.
Delta previously apologized and National Seating and Mobility says they can't comment on the case.
Sturdivant says she does plan to fly with Delta again, but continues to call on airlines to treat medical equipment with more care.
"This is just not a Delta issue, it's an airline issue. I can't tell you how many people wrote in my comments, 'I experienced the same thing with other airlines,'" Sturdivant says.
Sturdivant is hosting an medical equipment awareness day in Mount Vernon on March 23.
For more information, call 718-288-8572.
