Wounded Illinois Veteran Gets Life-Changing Chair

NAPERVILLE, IL — Lance Corporal James Poggi knew something big was about to happen when the motorcade of police vehicles and motorcycles circled his block for the second time. He was aware he’d be receiving one of the greatest gifts, a motorized Action Trackchair, but he had no idea it was coming for him Saturday.

A procession of friends, family and strangers in admiration surprised Poggi at his Somonauk home to present him with the new chair — a welcome device for Poggi, whose left leg was amputated in May.

“He thought he was going to another fitting for the ActionTrack,” said Donna Morsovillo, the organizer of the event. “He didn’t see it coming. There were tears all around.”

Poggi’s spinal meningitis set in after he was injured in 2010 while helping land a malfunctioning helicopter in Afghanistan. Several surgeries later, computers now aid in the functions of his spine. He says it’s been too long since he’s been able to play catch with his kids in the yard.

Morsovillo is the founder of Naperville-based Operation Welcome You Home. She learned of Poggi through his GoFundMe page and immediately set out to find him so she could help in any way she could. After exhausting her efforts, a fortuitous encounter with a rooftop repair man led her straight to him. The worker happened to mention Poggi when he struck up a conversation with Morsovillo about a month ago.

Shortly after, “Welcome You Home” helped Poggi acquire a motorized wheelchair, but even that didn’t provide the mobilization necessary to keep up with his wife and two children, ages five and eight. Their house is situated on hilly terrain, and when Morsovillo found out his kids were pushing him in his wheelchair, she stepped in to find him an all-terrain chair. To help present it, she put out notices to local motorcycle groups and law enforcement to gather Saturday morning at the Yorkville American Legion. When the motorcade arrived at his doorstep later that morning, it was big enough to make Poggi feel like the whole community was in on the surprise.

The most touching moment of the event for Morsovillo was the daughter’s reaction. With tears down her face, she turned to her father and said, “Daddy, this is the best day of my life.”

“The Action Trackchair can take James through hills, sand and snow. It can even take him into water, as long as the battery stays dry,” says Morsovillo.

There’s a generator on the back with a fully adjustable snowplow, which Poggi intends to use on his neighbors’ driveways to repay them for the help they’ve provided over the last few months. His kids are already telling their friends their dad will take them all sledding this winter.

“To have Donna do something that the V.A. wouldn’t,” the marine says, “my life will be changed forever because of this. Never will I ever be able to say ‘I can’t’ again.”

Above images via Operation Welcome You Home.