I made a little girl cry today

[Laiky]

Well said and well done Vicegrip! you make a very good point. something i will keep in mind the next time an oppertunity arises.

[Vicegrip]

Well done goes to the original poster. This is his thread and his good deed done. Mine was to simply make the point that we have skills and tools that make other peoples big problems small in our hands. I know that I have more skill than money right now.

[tnjind]

Vicegrip, I will hold you in the same class as Dabar, Who I admire for his "decentness" (sorry for the spelling)

[NewMexSmoke]

Kind of helps restore my faith in humanity which has been sagging of late.

Well done.

[Vicegrip]

To often we see and hear only the bad stuff. Good things happen one on one all around and it is not hard at all to be a part. Pick your best skills and lend them out now and then to someone that will benefit from them in mutiples. I have to admit I spent less time working on someones broken AC than I have spent watching a bad movie I have seen before because I was too lazy to get up off my azz and the remote was across the room.

Dave's good hearted actions rang true to a long held axiom of mine.

[Milton]

dammit , now you made me cry .

[08Welder]

People like you are what gives us hope in a world going in a bad direction.
You make us all proud

[Laiky]

Took your advice today....

Living in the NYC area i am rarely motivated to stop and help anybody. I was in Jericho Long Island today so i figured it was OK.

[Burnt hands]

It is so refreshing and heartwarming to read dabar39's story about helping a little 6 year girl.

I was also blessed to be able to help a neighbor.

About 2 years ago an occupational therapist knocked on my door and asked if I might be able to help with a small design project.
Turned out that my neighbor's baby girl, Ellie was in a cast and needed a more comfortable way to sit on her baby seat.
I went over and when I looked at her, I had a hard time not crying. She was in a spica cast (you can look this up on the web).
The neighbor who has 2 other children, wondered if I could cut and modify a plastic swing seat so Ellie would be more
comfortable since the spica or hip cast made sitting very difficult.
Her occupational therapist said that she could make any special clothing and add padding that might be needed to
accomodate the modified seat assembly.

I told them that it would be easier for me to build a metal frame than to modify a plastic swing seat.

Ellie's needs are simple - all she needed was a seat to keep her upright for feeding and also playing with her toys.
It would also be nice if the seat had wheels to move her around the house.

Through all of her operations and hospital visits, Ellie never cried or complained.

When I got home, I resolved to make a stable, easy to use chair with wheels which would make my neighbor's life a little easier.
The hardest part was trying to weld with tears welling up in my eyes.

Took a vacation day so I could work out a design and brought a prototype over that evening for a rough fitting and to test the concept out.

Total time was about 30 hours of design and fabrication all told but the funny thing is that it seemed to me that I finished it the next day,

The frame is 3/8" stainless rod and the seat back and tray support pieces are made from polyethylene cutting boards.
All metal parts are stainless as I wanted parts that could be wiped down with alcohol and was, if needed, dishwasher safe.
Wheels are from a microwave cart and can be removed for cleaning.
The tray and support table use velcro to allow for removal and adjustment.
Also the tray support swings down to allow access for placing Ellie in and strapping her down.
Since I can't even sew a button on a shirt, it was a blessing that the occupational therapist was able to make the cushions and padding for the seat assembly.
She even made a seat belt to keep Ellie safe.
My neighbor sent me a check but I have kept it locked away so as not to hurt her feelings.
I told her that all I want is to see Ellie walk and play with her siblings and I also mentioned that Ellie's stroller comes with a lifetime guarantee and
unlimited modifications at no charge.

Ellie will have a hard enough time and I am so glad that I was able to help in a small way.
This was truly a labor of love for me.

Plus I got to weld !

Please keep up the good deeds !

[krackle]

The world needs more people like you... I am sure you have some great luck coming your way.

And to think, I was ready to let you have it when I read the title of this thread...