Naples resident regains freedom with new electric wheelchair

When Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida in September, Angie Beer lost more than just her home.

She lost her freedom.

The double amputee from Indiana moved here approximately five years ago with her husband, Danny. She relies on a specialized electric wheelchair to move around –– typically with her teacup chihuahua, Bella, by her side.

While the pair evacuated for Hurricane Irma, they said they thought Ian wouldn’t directly hit the area, so they stayed at their apartment in the Bayshore area. They realized their mistake as the storm surge grew and almost reached the top of the bed Angie was on.

Acting quickly, Danny grabbed a kayak floating by and transported Angie, their four cats and four dogs to the front of the property to their landlord’s truck. From there, they went to a motel on higher ground along Tamiami Trail.

Like many others, the home they returned to was nearly unrecognizable.

“We went home and it was like a bomb exploded in our house,” Angie said. “I lost two electric wheelchairs. You could tell by the time we even got there, you can already see where the saltwater was eating through. It was too late to even take it apart and dry it out. We lost everything.”

After losing her wheelchairs, Angie spent a month bedridden. She was unable to help Danny drag stuff to the street or clean up the muck that had found its way inside their home from the storm surge.

“Things can be replaced, but freedom like that you can't replace,” she said.

The two eventually pooled enough money together to buy a used wheelchair for $800. Some parts were held together using zip ties.

Some weeks after Ian, the two connected with Naples Pride team member Jodi Schulinn, who was out delivering supplies. From there, she was put into contact with Salvation Army program manager Lisa Loren.

Loren said she was “struck by (Beer’s) attitude of gratitude.”

“She was so upbeat and pleasant with her little dog,” said Loren when referencing their first time meeting.

Partnering with the Collier Community Foundation, they secured a new mobilized wheelchair for Beer using funds from the Hurricane Ian Transportation Needs Program.

In addition to giving her the freedom to roam where she wants, the chair also raises and lowers to get her to eye level with the countertops, and it will allow her to lean back if she is in pain.

“I think you brought more joy to us, than we did to you,” Loren said.

Beer hopes more people like herself won’t fall to the wayside as the response to Hurricane Ian continues.

“People like me aren’t thought about unless they have someone like me in their family or as a friend,” she said. “Other than that, I don't think anyone gives people like my situation a second thought, because it just doesn't occur to them. I understand, but they do need to kind of start thinking about these people.”

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: What Hurricane Ian destroyed, Naples community returns for amputee