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WNY Family builds special chairs for children

Posted at 10:09 PM, Mar 06, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-06 22:44:22-05

It was an idea that started with simple parts, but came together to offer mobility to kids across the country.

"We take parts off of jogging strollers, the bumbo seats we get donated," Jeffrey Shorr told 7 Eyewitness News.

Shorr is the father of 21-month-old Bella Shorr who was born with spina bifida. Shorr noticed his daughter, who was unable to use her legs, was missing out on interacting with other kids in the neighborhood so the bumbo seats and stroller wheels came together to offer hope.

Shorr's relatives in Rochester found a design online and recreated the design at their home. . . and from there the family's version of a toddler size wheel chair, Bella's Bumbas, was born.

"She can go outside on the driveway, on the sidewalk and interact with the kids in the neighborhood."

Shorr says it took just days for Bella to master her new wheels and as quickly as Bella learned to navigate new terrain, word spread about the Shorr's effort to make mobility a possibility.

Bella's family in Rochester was soon constructing "Bella's Bumba's" for kids with special needs around the country. Shorr says his family constructs the chairs using items donated by community members, but simply asks the family receiving the chairs cover the shipping of the item.

The family says these unique chairs can be a God send for family's struggling to afford a traditional chair, that is often not covered by insurance.