Beth Miller

The News Journal

Toala%2C 51%2C was injured when kids tipped over the portajohn he was in%3B his back was broken when he fell

He has never been able to recover the level of income he enjoyed as a bus driver

Within a week of a News Journal update on Toala%2C donors had given %2426%2C700 to help him and his family

A quick avalanche of donations – more than $26,000 in one week's time – is on the way to Pedro Toala, the DART bus driver paralyzed when kids tipped over a portajohn in 2006.

The money, donated by more than 300 community members who read of his ongoing struggles in The News Journal and at delawareonline.com, has eased the financial death spiral Toala and his family were in a week ago. Now he and a financial adviser are hoping to map out a sustainable plan for the future.

Toala, 51, was injured when kids tipped over the portajohn he was in. His back was broken when he fell, and he lay motionless – covered with filth – until someone dragged him out.

Multiple surgeries were required, years of therapy, treatments, and hard work, and the never-say-quit Toala has made progress physically. He can stand and even walk now – albeit with difficulty and assistance. But mostly, he uses a portable wheelchair to move around.

He has never been able to recover the level of income he enjoyed as a bus driver, though. He was forced to take a lower-wage desk job and his finances suffered. He filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and was threatened with foreclosure by his bank a week or so ago. He saw no way to leave the split-level Milltown Road home that community members had renovated with donations and sweat to give him access. That work had a value of more than $200,000.

Now the community has come through again, with hundreds responding to news of his hard-won progress and continuing struggles. Within a week of a News Journal update on Toala, donors had given $26,700 to help him and his family find new traction.

"I am overwhelmed by people coming forward and helping me out a lot," Toala said Friday. "I'm so blessed. I want my God to bless them, so they'll be blessed also. In the spirit of giving – it is more blessed to give than to receive, but I am receiving now. And I am overwhelmed."

Toala set up a campaign on a crowd-funding website called GoFundMe.com, which has raised more than $590 million for a variety of causes since it was launched in May 2010, according to GoFundMe spokeswoman Kelsea Little. Fulton Bank on Kirkwood Highway also is accepting donations on Toala's behalf.

Donations are not tax-deductible. Toala is not a nonprofit agency. But many donors obviously don't care about that.

Stella Guest, for example, has followed Toala's story since he was first injured. She just wants to help make things better for him.

"It was nothing he did wrong," she said. "It was an unnecessary accident that changed the whole course of his life and his family's life ... I just hope he doesn't end up losing that house."

Many donors have written messages to Toala, explaining how his story, spirit, and hard work have touched them.

"I hope the kids that did this are also following the story and have learned that a prank can have serious consequences," one donor wrote. "I'm not sure I would have the strength to be as courageous as you if something like this happened to me or my husband. You are an inspiration!"

Another family wrote: "Pedro has done everything anyone in his position could possibly do to help himself. It is now our turn to give him a hand up."

Some said they were grateful to be part of the solution.

"Your perseverance and positive attitude set such a great example for others facing significant difficulties. I'm grateful to be able to help you."

In the short term, Toala now can pay off several outstanding debts and get the ramp and door of his van repaired. When those repairs are complete, Ed Osborne of Osborne's Auto Service in Wilmington has offered to service the van, Toala said.

Toala said his adviser, John Peoples at the Hockessin Athletic Club, is working with him to establish a financial plan that will carry his family forward.

"I just want to say thanks to everybody," he said. "I am really overwhelmed. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. My family thanks you also.

"There's a lot of love from me to everybody."

Contact Beth Miller at (302) 324-2784 or bmiller@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @BMiller57 or on Facebook.

How to help

Those who wish to donate toward Pedro Toala's progress may send checks (payable to him) to his bank at this address: Fulton Bank, Pedro Toala account, 3812 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington DE 19808 or donate online at his GoFundMe account at http://www.gofundme.com/i51078

These gifts are not tax-deductible.