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Teen With Cerebral Palsy Gets Custom-Made NYPD Wheelchair

A 16-year-old with cerebral palsy has always wanted to grow up and drive a police cruiser like his dad, and now he can do just that. It’s not exactly the real thing, but it’s the closest thing to it, as the video at the bottom of the page will show.
The custom-made wheelchair for teen with cerebral palsy 57 photos
Photo: Twitter / NYPD News
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Aiden Reilly, the son of NYPD Police Officer Reilly, relies on a wheelchair to get around, so to get him his custom-made police cruiser, the Magic Wheelchair Foundation was asked to come in to help. They specialize in creating wheelchair costumes for youth and adults, at no charge. They came up with the perfect idea for a Christmas present for this police cruiser aficionado.

The NYPD also chipped in, providing the designers with real car parts from NYPD disused cars, including sirens and lights. The result was a costume that put a smile on Aiden’s face: it’s the closest thing he could ever hope to get for his very own patrol cruiser.

To further customize the costume, the Foundation put Aiden’s name on the hood and his father’s badge number. He can switch on the lights and sirens in case of an emergency, just like he would with the real thing.

“We have helicopters, boats, and motorcycles - now we have our first custom-made wheelchair!” NYPD News says on Twitter. “Aidan wanted to upgrade his ride, so Santa, @magicwheelchair, and our Fleet Services Division gave it a makeover using old parts from NYPD cars. Lights and sirens included!”

Aiden is non-verbal but as you can see in the video, his reaction to seeing the car spoke volumes. For him, Santa managed to make his most ardent wish come true and it’s the best thing ever. As the department says on social media, bad guys would better watch out when he goes out on patrol!

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
Elena Gorgan profile photo

Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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