CANFIELD — Some people likely remember the catchy Dinah Shore ad jingle, “See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet,” but Jacob Uszko will probably be excited merely to see his neighborhood in his customized Power Wheels Jeep.

“It means everything to me. I was actually looking for a car for (Jacob) for months now, but I didn’t have the time or money,” his mother, Jackie Uszko of Painesville, said. “It’s a new journey for him; he’s not used to it, since he’s been in the hospital most of his life.”

Jacob’s stays at Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Cleveland largely were needed because he was born several months premature and had pulmonary hypertension, which is high blood pressure in the lungs that results when the vessels carrying blood from the heart to the lungs harden and become narrow. Consequently, Jacob needed a tracheotomy for two years to help him breathe before it was removed last November.

Despite his medical problems, Jacob will have increased mobility and be able to drive around his neighborhood more easily, courtesy of a customized and modified Power Wheels Jeep he received during the seventh annual Go Baby Go-Youngstown gathering Saturday morning at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, 7300 N. Palmyra Road.

Sponsoring the event for the fifth year was the Magic of Michael Foundation, which former Major League Baseball umpire John Hirschbeck and his wife, Denise, started in memory of their two late sons, John and Michael, both of whom were diagnosed with a rare neurological disease.

Go Baby Go, a program established in 2006 at the University of Delaware, provides modified, low-cost ride-on cars for children from birth to age 5 with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, spina bifida and other medical conditions that often lead to mobility impairments.

Twenty-five children from the Mahoning Valley and Cleveland area received vehicles.

“It’s wonderful what these people do for children with special needs,” Jacob’s grandmother, Julia Uszko of Painesville, said. “It brings me to tears.”

An estimated 50 physical and occupational therapists, adaptive-technology professionals and other volunteers spent Saturday morning making mainly seating adjustments to the vehicles. On Friday, electricians were on hand for several hours to work on wiring to ensure they operated properly.

“They rewired the cars so they can be used with a (hand) switch,” Bev Lankitus, a physical therapist with the Mahoning County Educational Service Center, said, noting that each Power Wheels was modified to fit the recipient’s needs.

The vehicles also were remote-control equipped so the children could more easily steer them, Lankitus added.

Among the volunteers Saturday were Loni McNany, a physical therapist with Fairhaven School in Niles; Hannah Parker, a Cleveland State University student studying physical therapy; and Shawn McCarthy, who works for Miller Rental and Sales in Youngstown.

McCarthy busily fitted a swing seat in one of the vehicles while McNany assisted. The particular seat was difficult to find because it had a special pummel in the middle to prevent a child from sliding, McNany explained.

“It’s such a heartwarming event in memory of our two boys, Michael and John,” Denise Hirschbeck said.

She also praised MCCTC students for designing stickers to customize the cars, and was pleased that the children had their names on the vehicles, which acted as “license plates.”

One hundred cars have been sponsored via the event since Magic of Michael began its sponsorship, Hirschbeck continued. For more information about the foundation, go to www.magicofmichael.com.

Also seemingly at ease in her newly modified Power Wheels was Ava Urmson, 2, of Lordstown, who came with her mother, Darlene Hilty. Ava, who also has physical challenges, was at ease navigating her vehicle, Hilty said.

Each car costs between $150 and $200. With electric switches, seating support and padding, the cost is under $400, according to Go Baby Go-Youngstown.

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