Sewickley company comes to Scottdale boy's rescue

An Allegheny County firm plans to replace a Scottdale boy's customized wheelchair that was damaged by vandals.

United Seating and Mobility in Sewickley, which manufactures customized wheelchairs, will provide the new wheelchair to Ian Hixson, 6, the son of Heather and Matthew Hixson.

"Yes, we've already been in contact with the family and have ordered the new Kid Cart for Ian. We're happy to help in such a situation," said United's Sheree Volk.

On Monday, vandals broke into the Hixson family sedan, parked outside their Market Street home, and damaged the custom-made $5,000 wheelchair, scattered $1,000 worth of vital medical supplies and stole a medical bag containing the boy's tracheostomy tubes.

The family had loaded the car with the wheelchair and supplies on Sunday evening in preparation for a trip to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, where the boy is being treated for an inoperable brain tumor. Ian has cerebral palsy and breathes with the help of a ventilator.

After Ian was diagnosed with the tumor in November, Matthew Hixson, a senior airman with the 911th Airlift Wing, came home early from Afghanistan to help care for his son.

The Hixsons could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Spouses of members of Matthew Hixson's Air Force Reserve Unit have established an Internet fundraising campaign for Ian that has drawn more than $11,000 in pledges. The money will help defray the boy's ongoing medical expenses.

The website for pledges is www.giveforward.com/ianhixson .