OFFERS for help poured in yesterday for Jovilisi Golea with calls from good Samaritans offering to send wheelchairs to the disabled Macuata villager.
Mr Golea, who suffered an illness at the age of two months that prevented him from walking, depends on his palms for mobility. The illness permanently folded his knees preventing him from walking again.
Fluent in Hindi, Jovilisi has never attended school and cannot speak English.
But he knows how to say the word "yes", so when The Fiji Times contacted him and asked if it was Jovilisi, he replied: "Yes."
He was indeed a delighted man when told of the offers of wheelchairs from his good Samaritans.
"Vinaka vakalevu, vinaka na veivuke mai (Thank you very much for the help)," Jovilisi said.
"Sa na rawa saraga noqu gade vei ira noqu tokani niu sana vodo tu na wheelchair. Au sa marau saraga! (I will be able to visit my friends as I have a wheelchair now. I am so happy)."
Mum Jotivi Mauwe said they had made arrangements with NGOs for a wheelchair but nothing has been received so far.
"I want to thank all those who have read his story in The Fiji Times and decided to help my son," she said. "I also thank The Fiji Times for the coverage and quick response it received from readers. Vinaka Fiji Times."