{"id":5352,"date":"2022-04-08T23:12:33","date_gmt":"2022-04-08T23:12:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiemh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnJlZ2lzdGVyY2l0aXplbi5jb20vbWlkZGxldG93bi9hcnRpY2xlL0FmdGVyLXBlcm1hbmVudC1zcGluYWwtaW5qdXJ5LU1pZGRsZXRvd24tSGlnaC0xNzA2ODI0My5waHA_dD1hMGY3ODM0NzZk0gEA"},"modified":"2022-04-08T23:12:33","modified_gmt":"2022-04-08T23:12:33","slug":"after-permanent-spinal-injury-middletown-high-tutor-seeks-help-getting-to-school-torrington-register-citizen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=5352","title":{"rendered":"After permanent spinal injury, Middletown High tutor seeks help getting to school – Torrington Register Citizen"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MIDDLETOWN \u2014 Adela Santiago, who suffered a permanent spinal injury two years ago, says she often has to trek more than 2 miles in her wheelchair to her job as a tutor and interventionist at Middletown High School.<\/p>\n

Two winters ago, Santiago said she slipped on ice while going down the stairs at home. As a result of the accident, she said her spinal cord and nerves were permanently damaged, causing acute scoliosis.<\/p>\n

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Santiago said she also suffers from sciatica and needs a motorized wheelchair to get around.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am in horrible pain all the time,\u201d she said last spring. \u201cSometimes, I can\u2019t walk. The pain is so bad I can\u2019t even move.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last year, Middletown Eagle Scout Michael Kline raised the money to purchase the wheelchair<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Now Santiago, who does not have a car, has launched a fundraising campaign in hopes of buying a used minivan.<\/p>\n

The single mother of two teenagers has been relying on the kindness of co-workers, bus driver and others for rides, but when no one is available, she\u2019s forced to walk.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no choice,\u201d she said. \u201cI have to go to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also difficult to get her wheelchair into most vehicles, Santiago added.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Santiago is raising funds through GoFundMe, with an $8,000 goal<\/a>. She hopes to gather enough to buy a used car so she can put her chair in the back. Any leftover funds would go toward insurance, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot big,\u201d she said of what kind of car she\u2019s looking for. \u201cGood enough to take me to work, the grocery store, doctor\u2019s appointments.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Santiago was previously a long-term Spanish substitute after she discovered her daughter wanted to take the class but there was no instructor, she said.<\/p>\n