Modified toy cars, William Carey

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Students and faculty members from the Physical Therapy program at William Carey University built modify toy cars Saturday for children who have physical limitations.

William Carey invited Eliza Byrd, (a little girl who was born with her legs paralyzed) to the campus to experience some of the modified cars as an early birthday gift.

Eliza’s mother, Jessica Byrd said, "Students from the Physical Therapy Department at William Carey have decided to modify some power wheel cars for the kids at Civitan Camp. And they asked my daughter to be a guinea pig."

Eliza was not just a guinea pig.

She got to drive various cars and she also got to take one home with her.

Professor, Judy Prehn said, "Children that can't use their feet to push the pedals can make the cars go with a big switch. So we're adapting the cars to make them go easily with a switch on the steering wheel, and we're adapting the sides so the children won't fall out."

Everyone saw the joy on Eliza's face.

Assistant professor, Amy Parker said, "Eliza's such a champ. She's trying out all of the cars and it's wonderful to see sort of the fruits of the student’s labor coming together as Eliza rides down the hallways."

"Building her a car is more meaningful to us than sitting on our couch studying for maybe a possible exam. So that's why we come up here on Saturday to work and to help benefit the community around us," said student, Connor Galloway.