For most of us, a flat tire or a damaged rim is an inconvenience. It means calling a shop, rearranging a schedule, maybe missing work. It’s frustrating, yes—but manageable.

But for my son, who is a quadriplegic and relies on a specially modified van, it’s far more than that. His van isn’t just transportation—it’s independence. It’s freedom. Without it, he can’t simply jump into another car or call a rideshare. Losing that van, even for a day, changes everything.

This morning, when he went to leave, he didn’t even make it out of the driveway. As soon as he started the van, the front driver’s side tire fell completely off. All of the lug nuts had been removed. The rim and tire were damaged. Someone, in the middle of the night, had tried to steal the tire. But because the van is modified, with its lowered floor, a standard jack wouldn’t work. The thief had given up—but left behind a vehicle that was now un-drivable.

For my son, it was devastating. What might be a hassle for someone else instantly became a crisis. Without that van, he was stranded.

We started calling towing companies, desperate to find help. One after another, the answers were the same: too busy, can’t handle a modified van, maybe later. Hours passed. The stress mounted. Then we reached Jason from On Time Towing in Richmond, VA.

And everything changed.

Jason arrived with a flatbed tow truck, prepared for what he thought would be a routine tow. But the moment he saw the van—and the situation—he didn’t just see a job. He saw a person in need. He saw my son.

Because of the lowered floor, it wasn’t simple. He couldn’t just hook it up. He had to get creative. So Jason rigged a system to lift the van just enough to slide a jack underneath and work on the damaged tire. In the sweltering heat and humidity, he worked patiently, carefully, refusing to give up until he found a way forward.

When he finally got the van high enough, Jason inspected the damage. To our immense relief, the hub assembly was intact. The van didn’t need a full tow after all. That’s when Jason did something we didn’t expect—he offered to put on the spare tire himself.

It would have been easier, faster, and more profitable for him to simply tow the van to a shop and move on. But Jason chose the harder path, the one that required sweat, time, and extra effort—all because he wanted my son to be able to drive his van that very same day.

And thanks to him, that’s exactly what happened.

By the time the job was done, Jason was soaked with sweat, the heat bearing down. But my son was mobile again. He was able to attend an important event that evening, something that mattered deeply to him, instead of being stranded until Monday.

Jason didn’t just save a van. He gave my son back his independence—at least until we can get to the shop for permanent repairs.

There are days when the world feels unkind, when people take more than they give. Last night, someone tried to steal. This morning, we faced the consequences. But today, Jason reminded us that there are still people who go above and beyond—not because they have to, but because it’s the right thing to do.

Jason, you truly were a lifesaver for my son. You didn’t just do your job—you gave him dignity, mobility, and hope on a day when everything seemed stacked against him.

Thank you, Jason. You rock.