When Frances James' wheelchair broke a few months ago, she was told it would take until 2011 for Medicare to replace it. So a welding class in Florence came to her rescue.

James was paralyzed from the waist down in 1989, following a car accident.

She is dependent on her ultralight wheelchair to get around, and two years ago she started having trouble with it. Then a few months ago, it finally broke. Under Medicare rules, James was told her wheelchair could only be replaced every five years... and she had one more year to go.

James was able to use a iron wheelchair, but she wasn't as mobile because it was so heavy.

Students in the welding program at the Florence School District One Career Center heard about James' situation and wanted to help her. They were able to weld the chair back together.

"I have my independence back. I can finally leave home and go to the store myself without bothering my nephew constantly - without going with me to the store. Sometimes, I would get stuck in my bathroom and he would have to turn the chair, this big heavy iron chair, for me to get in and out of my bathroom," said James.

In return for their good deed, Monday afternoon James treated the students to a pizza party with all the trimmings. She baked several cakes for the students to enjoy.

James is hoping to get a new wheelchair sometime next year, but is thankful to the students that she's able to use her existing one for the time being.