Former athlete grateful for kindness of strangers in time of need
As quadriplegic looks back, he finds he has something to look forward to
4:32 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Thanks to some help from Oprah's Big Give: Topeka, and hardworking volunteers, there's new hope for the family of one man who once had dreams of being a professional athlete.
"I was a quarterback and a pitcher outfielder in baseball," Oprah's Big Give: Topeka recipient Ray Santin said.
Santin loved playing sports in high school and college. He had big dreams of playing professional baseball. But in 1995, a late night drive on a back road changed all that.
"It was on a dirt road and hit a patch of sand, and the truck flipped over and what they say is I went through the sunroof," he said.
He broke his neck, and now Stantin is a quadriplegic.
"Didn't have my seat belt on, and there was drinking involved," he said. "The weird thing about it, the driver didn't have a scratch on him."
He has no movement from the neck down, and the one person he relies on the most is his mother, Karen Barenzinsky.
"She's great. She's my hero. She takes care of me," he said.
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Oprah's Big Give: Scranton-Ray Santin
After aspirations of being a professional athlete, a car accident left Ray Santin confined to a wheelchair as a quadriplegic. Thanks to the community and Oprah's Big Give, life is looking up for Ray and his family.
Barenzinsky wishes she could do more, especially when it comes to the little things that most of us take for granted.
"The thing that bothers me more than anything is when he has to call me in the night because something's itching on his face and he can't scratch it," she said.
She was devastated when she heard about her son's accident, but she is grateful just to have him here with the rest of the family.
The family is no stranger to kindness. The Scranton community pitched in to build this room when he had his accident. Now Oprah's Big Give: Topeka is helping out, and once again volunteers are heeding the call to help out.
"Good Samaritans. It's good to know that there are still people like that around," he said.
The family van is in need of repairs and so is Ray's wheelchair. Barenzinsky's kitchen has seen better days, but she does what she can to keep her family fed.
She says it's the company of others that keeps Ray's spirits high. But bad days are bound to happen, and they do.
"When Ray's not feeling well and doesn't want to get up, you can tell by the look on his face that he's had a bad night," she said.
Barenzinsky knows his frustration comes from a dimming hope a cure will be found to help her son walk.
"They're always talking about a cure in five years," she said. "So, we put in so much hope, and I still hope that they will come up with a cure."
On the air
Tune in to 49 News all week for profiles of Oprah's Big Give: Topeka participants. And, if you'd like to help, tune in to 49 News at 6 Thursday. We'll be conducting a telethon to raise money and recruit volunteers to help make Oprah's gift bigger. Or can't make it to the TV Thursday night? Tell us how you can volunteer online. Sign up here.
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