By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Chris Sullivan, 14, an eighth grade student at the Caribou Middle School, stated, “It’s hard for me to get around sometimes because I walk with a prosthetic and brace , but I have a lot of friends at school who help me. I am very capable of doing things for myself, even walking, although I do have a limp,” he added. “Sometimes its just easier if I use a wheelchair.”
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Cindy Johnson, owner of The Cubby and Bruce Langley, right, recently presented Chris Sullivan with a $50 check in honor of being named The Cubby’s November Hero. Sullivan said he most likely would use some of the money to take his sister out to dinner.
The young man with a contagious smile coupled with a level of determination and independence which allows him to be where he wants to be, doing what he wants to be doing, is The Cubby’s November Hero.
As the result of being stricken with meningitis at the age of three months, Sullivan lost the tips of his toes on one foot and several of the toes entirely on the other and deals with other complications as well.
“It’s not that hard, I believe I can do anything I want to do just like any other normal person,” said Sullivan, who enjoys all his school subjects expect math and really likes to draw and work with computers.
Cindy Johnson, owner of The Cubby, located on Sweden Street in Caribou, stated, “Chris is an outstanding young man and it’s so wonderful to see him able to overcome the challenges he is faced with — his cheery disposition is there with him all the time. When we were first getting ready to open The Cubby, Chris and his friends went door-to-door getting our business hangars out to everyone. It was a brutally hot day but that didn’t stop Chris.”
Through The Cubby which is named for her son, Johnson seeks to give back to the community and its residents who have shown support to her family. Johnson’s son Caleb continues to battle an incurable disease.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Kurt Violette, left, owner of Napoli’s Restaurant; and Cindy Johnson, owner of The Cubby, presented Bruce Langley with $50 and a Napoli’s T-shirt in recognition of his generosity in supplying a wheelchair to local youth, Chris Sullivan.
Bruce Langley of Caribou, said, “I was driving by the post office one day and there was this young man, Chris, lying on the sidewalk. His wheelchair had tipped, the front wheel was missing, it was in pretty rough shape, but no one had stopped to help him. Just as I stopped there was a lady who offered assistance.”
“The wheelchair was at least 6 or 7 years old and hadn’t had much maintenance done to it,“ said Langley. “There was no way it could be operated safely. I helped him get straightened around and told him to meet me across the street at The Cubby, my father, who also had used a wheelchair, had only recently passed away and I told Chris, ‘you need a chair.’”
Langley made arrangements for Chris and a family member to pick up his father’s wheelchair. “He (Chris) was just so pleased with his new chair and I was very grateful that I could help him.”
A third Caribou resident, Kurt Violette, owner of Napoli’s Restaurant told Johnson he wanted to be a part of this inspirational event, when Chris Sullivan was awarded his Hero, check of $50 from The Cubby. Violette donated half of the $50 check Johnson presented to Langley, along with a Napoli’s T-shirt. Johnson commented, “Kurt at Napoli’s is our business neighbor and he is really good to us, keeping us supplied with his wonderful garlic sticks.”
