Community gifts paralyzed football player a wheelchair-accessible van

(Fox 5)

At the blow of a whistle, Jasiel Favors collided head-to-head with another football player. The September 2015 injury left him paralyzed, and in the year since, his Stony Point, New York, community has rallied to help make the teen’s life easier.

Supporters recently presented Jasiel with a wheelchair-accessible van, Fox 5 reported.

“The last year has been rough, very, very rough,” said Debra Favors, Jasiel’s mother, told the news channel. “It’s rough trying to get things in and out of the car, to the doctor appointment.”

Before, family members had to pick Jasiel up to transport him, which was challenging for the teen.

Jasiel’s friends raised $15,000 through a GoFundMe campaign, but it wasn’t enough to buy the van. Next, more than 200 community donors and Wheeler Construction stepped in to make the purchase happen.

“It feels good knowing I have a good support team, knowing everyone is there for me,” Jasiel told Fox 5.

A nurse visits Jasiel weekly for rehab, and he has been able to move his fingers more, but doctors did not give him a prognosis.