Generous Gift Helps Sick Father Connect To Family
Jay Pearson, Sales and Operations Manager - Captain Limousines
Melissa Newton DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ― Charles Lockwood spends a lot of time online. “It’s been his life source for the past year.” says his sister, Katherine.
The 28-year-old Richardson man has pretty much been homebound, due to a genetic disorder called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Alpha-1, as it’s known, causes lung and liver disease in children and adults.
“It’s taken its toll, little by little,” says Charles’ aunt Carol Gaffney, “It creates toxic chemicals in the body that eventually corrode the liver, the lungs, the heart, the blood vessels, and that’s where we are at this point with him.”
The internet, and specifically the online game Evony, have been his only escapes. “Many nights his stomach would hurt, and he couldn’t sleep, and like a prisoner of war he would send his mind elsewhere and go play this game.” Gaffney explains.
Nearly two weeks ago, Lockwood took a turn for the worse and landed back in Dallas’ Medical City Hospital.
With the exception of a few brief visits, he is often separated from his family because of a compromised immune system. Without a laptop, connecting with the outside world, and his 8-year-old son Caleb, hasn’t been easy.
A couple in South Carolina who play the online game with Charles heard his story and wanted to help. Despite never meeting him in person, they got the ball rolling, and Thursday, Dallas-based Captain Limousines donated a new Dell laptop.
“We get to participate in a lot of really cool events in peoples’ lives, weddings, graduations, proms, and that’s a fun part of our business,” says the limo company’s Operations Manager Jay Pearson, “It’s really great to be able to do something for somebody who is maybe going through a little bit of a hard time.”
“I can be here in the hospital and be sick and not have to sweat too much about what’s going on.” Lockwood said after getting the gift, “I can keep in better contact with my son, and watch him walk by the web camera.”
Coppell, TX – (April 29, 2010) – If you’ve watched TV in the last 20 years or checked the NFL rankings lately, you probably think you know Dallas. Well, yes and no.
