Pachinko Across America

[owennewton]

First of all I have to thank everyone involved in putting this together.

jacksje4, Jeff, thank you for posting the ad, if not for that I never would have seen it

New in Town, Brian, Thank you for the balls and the picker upper thingy

Moparformances, Dave, Thank you for the wonderful box of balls (I pulled about 30 for my collection of different engravings)

Jmaclerran, Jim, Thank you for the balls and flag

Big Bear Steve, Steve, thanks for the trays (from a parlor I had none for so I admit to swapping the two for three matching ones from my collection) and the random model car parts

And most of all, Lazarus, Dave, Thank you so much for donating, packing and shipping the 9 drums gladiator pachinko for this family you had never met.

so I replaced the feet, all the screws in the frame, put a new cord on the pachi, replaced and taped all wire nuts, fixed the wiring issues it had, cleaned everywhere balls can go and made a hopper extension for the reward hopper to hold the balls.

I met up with Dave (lots of Daves involved with this) and Elyse in a parking lot (always fun to get the strange looks from people driving by) we had perfect timing as I was about 20 minutes early yet he pulled in right behind me. I showed him how everything works, he got Her out of the truck to meet me and see the machine. She was very shy at first but after a while with me chatting with Dave she turned around, looked at the pachi, looked at me, took a step closer, smiled and said "Hi"...then turned back around and hid by dads arm.

I was disappointed at this point as my camera had chosen to not work for the first time ever but Dave promised to send me some pics later so I helped him load the pachi, around 3000 balls (I added a few as well) flags and the rest.

Dave wanted me to let everyone involved to know he thinks this is an amazing group of people that are willing to send thing from across the country to help out a stranger and try to express his thanks to you all.

and now for pics Picture 097.jpgPicture 094.jpgPicture 098.jpg


here is a ling to the original thread for anyone that missed it
Pachinko Machine needed

[WOEII]

This whole project was just awesome. She looks like she is having a ball. I feel so happy for her and the family.

I am so glad to be a part of a this forum! You all team up in the time of need and treat each other with respect and it feels like a family here.

[Moparformances]

It is truly a great goupe of people we have hear...

thanks to all who donated

and thanks to Owen for taking the time and effort to make the delivery possable...

[RaymondV]

Outstanding job guys
You guys went above and beyond the call of duty
I feel honored to know you guys through this great website

[dattia]

Thanks so much to everyone involved. Such a nice thing to do!

[subdude]

Awesome! she looks like she is having a blast. I'm sure that smile will become permanent shortly.

[Lazarus]

I would like to thank ownenewton, Hank, for being on the receiving end of this. Normally not the best place to be in! Even though the machine could have been sent directly to Dave it was a far better thing to have Hank receive it and prep it as he did. Then meeting up with Dave for the personal touch.
I also appreciated all the others that contributed in there own way to complete the pachinko experience.

I asked Dave in emailing back and forth if he would share something about themselves. With permission from Dave here are two emails he sent me. I was going to edit them down but they stand good as they are.


David,first and foremost,thank you for your leep of faith.I assure youI am not just someone trying to take advantage of your obvious goodnature.The fact that both you guys would give ,and go out of your wayto help a complete stranger and his daughter is heartwarming to saythe least. Now about us,we live in Aloha Oregon,my daughters name is ElyseMarie,she was born deafblind, as a result of a very rare geneticdisorder.At 3 years old her mom took off and left us with one fork anda mountain of debt.I was left with a choice of being my daughters lifelong care giver ,or dump her into a foster system.The easiest harddecision I ever made ,I closed my truck painting shop and took on therole of mom,dad,and caregiver.That was 21 years ago,I received nochild support, alimony and have managed to stay off governmentassistance by working part time out of my garage while Elyse was inpublic school.Now that she is out of school we have found ourselveshome bound, almost isolated ,because of no services available .Welive on $$$ (felt this was to personal but a vary small sum to live on)a month,which leaves nothing left for "fun"things.Elyse relies on me for 100% of her daily livingneeds(dressing,bathing,eating,etc).It is so rare to find somethingthat is in gauging to her.I know it is hard to understand,but thismachine can give her a level of independence,confidence andaccomplishment,it is so "cause and effect". When we visited my buddywho had a machine,Elyse would sit and play until I pealed heraway.This is the only thing ever ,I mean ever that she has engaged forany period of time .David,my hope is that this machine will give hera activity that she can enjoy ,and also give me a little break aswell.If she does not use as anticipated ,I will gladly ship back inthe same condition as received.Again thank you so much for making thishappen for us,I never have asked for help before..ya know a guything..Thanks ,Dave and Elyse.


Hi David,glad to here that the machine has arrived,I will wait to herefrom Hank. I will join the site ,I need to thank all who went out ofthere way to help make this possible,I will for sure take somepictures of Elyse playing with the machine and share them with you,anything you would like to share with others is fine. Maybeit could inspire other dads to spend more time with there daughters.Icant thank you enough for all of this,not just the machine ..but foryour willing to help my daughter.This is kind of a break throughmoment for me..asking for help that is,just now getting out of a badplace .Two years ago our house burned to the ground two weeks before Iwas to get married,and a week later my fiancee got sick ...advancedliver cancer,she passed a week after we were to be married.I havedecided to put the machine on a table next to my computer,that wayElyse can play while I can spend time on the computer.In the time Ispent composing this e-mail ,Elyse has spent the time rearranging ourrefrigerator and all of our canned foods are in the strangest ofplaces throughout the house...oh the wonderful world of a autisticchild.This machine is going to be such a blessing,I have made all ofher toys in the past, but she has outgrown them or were lost in thefire.I will get back to you when we get all set up ,Thanks again ,Dave.

[takethecastle57]

You folks are the BEST !!!

[Moparformances]

If she does not use as anticipated ,I will gladly ship back in the same condition as received.

If Dave has a chanch to be a member i can speak for myself and say... I do not what the pachinko balls i sent back... sell them and keep the money.. I apperciate the gesture but there yours now do as you see fit...

Thanks for posting Laz

[new in town]

I like IT when a Plan comes Together ! ! !

Hank, I applaud you for the time and effort that you have put forth.

And also for ALL directly involved and All of our Members who pitched in with nothing but Praise and Good Will, THANK YOU Also.

Elyse Marie Has a Very Big SMILE in the Pictures and that makes me feel GOOD.

It was a Pleasure to be a part of this.

This may not end here.

Hank. Will PM you with another Idea if your up to "IT"

[hanabi]

Wow how wonderful and heart-warming to see the result, when you generous and caring PT people make things happen like this,

the reward is there in the smile on the face of Elyse

Thank you to all that spread the sunshine

[yose]

You guys are awsome, to help a total stranger in need is a rare story. You will be rewarded for your generous giving.To see a smile on Elyse's face meens everything. Thank you, thank you thank you.

[BigBearSteve]

That smile says it all