Subway conductor helping children with limb loss at home and overseas
NEW YORK (WABC) -- In the middle of life's daily grind along the F line, there's one friendly face riders can count on seeing: Israel Carrasquillo.
When he's not conducting, Carrasquillo walks the platform at the Kings Highway station in Brooklyn, offering compassion, encouragement and a steady presence to riders who need it.
"Be careful, you heard..." he tells one commuter as he moves along the platform, checking on riders and greeting regulars with warmth.
He's also watching for anything that could affect safety or delays.
"We are looking for graffiti, broken windows," he said.
All of this is part of his day. And he does it with the help of a prosthetic leg.
"I was shot when I was young. I was 16 years old," he said, describing the injuries that led to multiple gunshot wounds in his leg and, eventually, a transtibial amputation.
The Queens native didn't let the surgery derail his life, and now he's determined to do the same for others.
Last November, Carrasquillo traveled to Zambia with the Limb Kind Foundation, a nonprofit that provides prosthetics for children with limb loss.
"A lot of them had snakebites. A lot of crocodile attacks," he said.
His work there ranged from physical therapy support to emotional encouragement.
"We prepped the kids and the teenagers, from physical therapy to uplifting encouragement and just showing them what to expect once they get their prosthetics," he said.
"The first day they were scared, they were anxious," Carrasquillo said. "And then the seventh day, they were crying, and so were we."
Helping the children regain mobility and confidence left a lasting impact on him, too.
"I learned to be more appreciative," he said.
When he's not volunteering or working on the subway, Carrasquillo leads an active lifestyle.
"If you ride a bicycle in New York, we probably know each other," he said with a smile.
Through it all, Carrasquillo hopes his story shows others that no matter what happens, there's always a way forward.
"Something negative can always have positive worth," he said.
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
