VALDOSTA — Imagine a wheelchair complete with water-resistant comfort seating and components to give the body a total workout — a chair with locking mechanism, hand grips and a drink holder that will even allow you to glide. This was the vision of Fred Carlo, who invented the Genesis Range of Motion Therapeutic Chair in 1992.

“God inspired me to build this chair when my sister had to undergo several surgeries, which affected her physical health,” Carlo said before presenting the first Genesis chair off of the production line to Rachel Abee at the Clinch County Board of Education Wednesday morning.

At two years-old, Rachel was diagnosed with a rare brain abnormality that caused profound mental retardation, cortical blindness, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. At five, she was introduced to Fred Carlo, who was attending a fundraiser to supply Rachel’s mother with a van.

Soon thereafter, Carlo visited Rachel’s home to demonstrate his new creation in hopes that the chair would increase the physical activity in her arms and legs. Rachel, who usually remains in a fetal position, sat firmly in the chair and seemed to like its gliding motion. At one point during Carlo’s visit, Rachel managed to raise her face and both of her arms over her head, which her mother said was an impossible feat. She was even seen smiling, though physicians had previously indicated that Rachel would never be able to use her facial muscles.

Today, more than a decade later, Rachel, now 21, will be able to enjoy her very own Genesis chair, the Exodus I. Rachel’s mother, Martha Abee, has deemed the chair a “miracle chair” and is optimistic that it will help tone Rachel’s feeble muscles. She is so confident in the benefits of this chair, she even mentioned hopes of the chair being covered by insurance one day.

Carlo said that he was ecstatic to inform the Abee family that his company was finally ready to begin production of the Genesis chairs.

“I know that this chair will revolutionize therapy for the physically challenged,” Carlo said. “I am certain that Rachel’s physical condition will only get better.”

Genesis chairs include in the Exodus I, a range of motion easy-glide therapeutic stationary chair, and the Exodus II, a range of motion easy-glide therapeutic wheelchair.

Carlo mentioned that the positive effects of the chair have been documented by various physical therapists, medical physicians and health and wellness specialists. Genesis chairs have been said to offer significant benefits to people with amputations, arthritis, autism, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s Disease, restless legs syndrome and many more. Carlo added that Genesis Chairs, Inc. is a Christian-based entity.

To order a Genesis chair, learn more about it or view Rachel’s story and other testimonials, visit www.genesischairs.com