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Wheelchair kid stranded by Air Canada after tweet-a-thon
An eight-year-old kid suffering from muscular dystrophy had a simple dream: to race through Central Park in a tutu surrounded by a group of supporters. After a tweet-a-thon, anchored on the hashtag #TutusForTanner (the kid's name is Tanner) resulted in $25,000, he hopped a plane for New York. The trip ended with the discovery that his $15,000 wheelchair had been ruined during the flight.
Tanner was stranded. He couldn't go anywhere without a replacement.
Air Canada promised an immediate remedy – who wouldn't? – but hours passed and no wheelchair materialized at LaGuardia. And, the airline has said it can't fix the situation until Monday. Tanner is not in Central Park. Rather, he's stuck in a hotel bed, possibly for up to five days. Until Air Canada comes through, Tanner isn't going anywhere.
Also, wheelchairs. But fingers crossed that's sorted properly. Delirious. Going to curl up & cry, & sleep. Love to you all #tutusfortanner
Catherine Connors
herbadmother
Needless to say, Twitter is upset – well, specifically the people on Twitter. The folks who tweeted to send Tanner to Manhattan are now livid that Air Canada, according to TechEye.net, "has dashed the hopes of a dying child and ruined what could have been a joyous moment in his last remaining days."
Fortunately, the Twitter-verse seems to be focused on getting a replacement wheelchair for the kid, though it appears that the situation hasn't been fixed yet. Notes the article, "The #TutusForTanner campaign is still ongoing, growing, and welcoming more support." Meanwhile, Air Canada still hasn't done anything, according to the report.
Filed under: North America, Canada, United States, Airlines, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brenda Aug 8th 2010 8:56PM
There's a reason its called "Scare Canada"- they left my luggage behind for 2 days to make room for cargo.
mike Aug 9th 2010 12:19AM
dude that makes no sense to me, cause isnt cargo in there meaning luggage?
Abraxus Aug 9th 2010 1:03AM
No, luggage is considered baggage by an airline - cargo is all the other stuff they cart (animals sometimes, boxes and packages etc). All airlines can lose luggage - US Airways lost my parents luggage between a change in flight they had in Philly and Reagan National - that flight is only about 30 minutes long - how do you lose bags in that space of time? They put them on a plane to Chicago by mistake - no idea how since the airline codes for those 2 airports are not even similar. Want a great airline to fly on? Virgin Atlantic - fantastic staff, friendly, great seats, about as nice a flight as being in coach for 7 hours could be!
bruce williams Aug 8th 2010 9:00PM
I feel sorry for Tanner's predicament. Perhaps it was not Air Canada's fault. I have had luggage destroyed by the mechanical routing system on it's way to the luggage carousel at LaGuardia before. But, I am surprised that Air Canada or a wheelchair company could not find a replacment quickly in a city the size of New York. Hopefully one will be found, and Tanner can belatedly and with some press coverage have his Tutu run through Central Park, and that those that pledged will still donate that money. Hope your luck changes for the better Tanner.
Tim Aug 8th 2010 9:05PM
No wheelchairs in New York city??.....1 call, 5 minutes, 1 wheelchair.....
Carolina Aug 9th 2010 1:16AM
It's a 15K VERY specialized special needs wheelchair - no 5 minute call can get one of those on the weekend, unless you know the Prez! Anyway, Abraxcus above linked in this and all is fixed, at least temp, and Air Canada will completely fix after the weekend (so the boy got to go afterall):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10895108
shannon Aug 9th 2010 9:31AM
It is not always just as easy as making a call. I have 2 children who use wheelchairs, and only one of them could use a generic wheelchair foor a short term basis. Many people who have a disability need very specific seating to be able to sit at all. On two seperate occasions an airline has damaged my daughters wheelchair. It took United 9 months to replace the one they broke.
Anita Siler Aug 8th 2010 9:38PM
Please, people, be aware that there are many low end wheelchairs that are available for a nearly normal body. You can buy some manual wheelchairs for less than $300. This young man could not use such a chair. Anyway who uses a $15,000 wheelchair, which is an electric wheelchair, has many serious needs, and such a chair is not just sitting in a nearby medical supply store aiting for womeone to pick it up; it must be special-ordered, specially built, and approved. I hope Air Canada is aware of this and quickly gets its tail in gear, or this is going to be one sad story. I often travel with my wheelchair and/or motorized scooter, and I wonder how in the heck they managed to ruin this young man's chair.
shannon Aug 9th 2010 9:31AM
My daughter has had two manual chairs broken by airlines. I will never let her travel with her power chair because of this. I know several other people who have had their children's wheelchairs damaged buy the airlines too. I think you have just been very lucky in your travels, and I wish you continued luck!!
pjschumacher Aug 8th 2010 9:34PM
Sometimes it is difficult to find/get a wheelchair for children. Sometimes the wheelchair was a special seat for just that child. My daughter's first wheelchair had her seat special made to fit her, just like a racecar driver's is made for that driver. They took all kinds of measurements so that she could travel with the most comfort and safety.
Mary Myers Aug 8th 2010 9:47PM
Shouldn't this be one of those occassions when some over-paid, lard-assed individual could cancel his tennis week-end and come in to work and make something happen in his company, in this case Air Canada, and see that the company's reputation is maintained?
Or then again...screw the customer...Air Canada has their moeny...the exec has his bonus and well...so it goes...
New Yourker Aug 8th 2010 9:55PM
Poor kid!!! Next time fly WestJet! They know how to treat thier passengers and thier belongings!
panhermes Aug 8th 2010 9:52PM
Is it not possible that Tanner requires a specialize conveyance and not merely a basic wheel chair...Is there no one in NYC who can get this youngster a wheel chair? Were I up there I'd gladly rent one for him and then volunteer to lift and wheel him around. I know my way around with wheel-chairs having guided a 93 year old over gravel garden paths, a neighbor in and out of homes, and a patient out of an auto, into an elevator and to a doctors appointment. Additonally it's great knowing how to navigate over steps - backward and lifty slightly to ensure no bumps. GET TANNER HIS CHAIR NOW! As for AC=boycott them....
ed Aug 8th 2010 10:08PM
air canada should buy this child a replacement chair real fast for I see a lawsuit with a capital "L" coming besides have they not heard of the U.S. ADA law?
Sympathizer Aug 8th 2010 10:26PM
So, this kid really has a rough situation and we have "idiots" writing here about spelling and grammar. Wonderful. I also noted one person that said he could make : "Tim
Aug 8th 2010 9:05PM
No wheelchairs in New York city??.....1 call, 5 minutes, 1 wheelchair....." Well Tim, you are under the wire now. Let's see just how fast you can get that wheelchair to this kid. The clock is ticking...
J.E.B. Aug 8th 2010 11:14PM
To Air Canada: Take off, hosers! You screwed up, by golly, ay? Just admit it.
dfc4385 Aug 8th 2010 11:32PM
And this 8 year old handicapped child was travelling with...................?
Aukake Aug 8th 2010 11:35PM
While it is a sad story, saadder still are the posters that only want to point fingers and don't know anything. It is apparent to my 70 year old brain that this was a special order chair, made to fit a child that has special needs, lots of them. You can't just go to the wheel chair store and buy one!! I would also not place blame on the airlines until and if you find out where the damage happened. I remember when DIA opened in Denver there was a serious problem with the auto luggage handler. To the brain that mentioned the ADA in his post....how do you know that the child is covered by that? Judging by the name of the carrier, he may be a Canadian and not American and so would not be covered by ADA. To al of you with such good advice and spewing hot air, go to NY and offer to carry the chidl where he wants to go.
Danielle Aug 10th 2010 1:24AM
Thank you for your common sense post!
Dan Brown Aug 9th 2010 3:45PM
My son uses a custom designed wheel chair and is simply stranded without it. An unnamed airline had one of their gorilla baggage handlers rip the wires out of the battery instead of reading very simple preprinted disassemble instructions that were attached to the battery before our flight. The airline accepted no responsibility and made not attempt to repair the problem. I finally was able to make a temporary fix that got us by until the chair could be repaired correctly. Airlines will destroy an electric wheel chair! A word to the wise. First, remove and carry your controller with you. Secondly, print some simple instructions on battery removal and how to free wheel the chair.