A.J. Cada is closer to being a mobile member of society.

On Monday evening, the recently paralyzed 21-year-old received a donation of a manual wheelchair from a local veterans organization.

"I'm thankful. It's hard to be anything but thankful," said Cada, a former Army medic who is to be honorably discharged from the National Guard due to his new physical restrictions. "I really appreciate that they could do it."

The wheelchair came by way of Bill Davis, commander of the local chapter of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.

Davis said his fiancee Lexey Curtis had read the Press story about Cada's paralyzing accident on Sunday, shortly after Davis had picked up a wheelchair donated to his group by a Twin Lakes resident.

"It was serendipitous, I guess," Davis said.

He contacted Cada, who lives with his sister and his girlfriend, Amanda Hotine. The next evening, Davis and Curtis dropped off the wheelchair.

"(Cada) was pretty stunned, I think," Davis said. "His girlfriend, Amanda, I think she was choking up a little."

The Combat Veterans organization is all about veterans helping veterans, Davis said.

"I think all of us, combat vets, we feel pretty much the same way, when we are able to help someone or support them a little," said Davis, a Vietnam veteran. "It's part of being a veteran in this country. You never just come home and then it's over with."

Cada served in-country in the National Guard. After a swimming accident at Tubbs Hill last summer, he has been unable to move his lower body.

Although his insurance funded an electric wheelchair, he needed a smaller and lighter manual wheelchair to fit into his van to allow him access to physical therapy.

The Invacare SKS model wheelchair with removable arms and footrests is a helpful temporary solution, Cada said.

"It'll be good for me to get around," Cada said, adding that so far he has just used it inside his sister's Hayden house.

He conceded that to get through physical therapy, he needs a custom wheelchair that fits his body.

So the spaghetti feed fundraiser is still on to raise $3,000 for such a chair. The event is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church in Priest River.

Cada is looking forward to the fundraiser, he said, especially now that Davis' donated wheelchair will allow him to attend.

"This one will work to get me around until I get that chair," he said.

Davis said his organization always welcomes donations of wheelchairs, hospital beds and other resources to pass along to veterans in need. He asked folks visit the organization's website, www.combatvet.org.

Davis believes Cada's positive attitude will keep him strong, he said.

"I've got bad knees and a bad back, and after seeing him I said, 'I can't believe I complain about my sore knees,'" Davis said. "He's got a great attitude, and his courage is exemplary."