FAMILY BUSINESS( Left) Bryson donated a vehicle to the Spring Lake Hope Foundation, which helps families with children who have rare illnesses and special needs.( Above) Bryson with her husband Bobby and sons Dallas, Decker and Carter;( inset) Bryson with her sister Danielle. |
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“ I was in tears myself,” Bryson recalls.“ I realized that Iwanted to do this for as many people as Icould.” Her passion for the business led to ownership in 2017 when Bryson bought the business from its retiring founder, Al Ackerman.
“ He received alot of offers from big corporations,” she says.“ It took abit of convincing for him to put in the hands of a30-year-old. But he believed in me, and it worked out best for both of us.”
Now, eight years later, she has moved the business to abigger location in Saddle Brook and continues to improve the lives of people throughout New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
HOWFTMOBILITYWORKS
Forthose in wheelchair, onascooter, or with weakness from astroke, Bryson says that FTMobility can modify an existing vehicle or sell one that has already been modified to accommodate differently abled passengers or drivers.
“ Every single person who calls— no two situations are exactly the same,” she says.“ It really helps the psyche of people with, for example, spinal cord injuries, tohave the independence of getting into avehicle.”
FTMobility can provide everything from awheelchair lift costing afew
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thousand dollars tofully modified vehicles that start at $ 25,000 and can go much higher. The cost can beprohibitive, and every year Bryson donates avehicle someone in need. Arecent beneficiary was afamily whose father had ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’ sDisease, that had progressed significantly.
“ When Icalled to tell them, the mom was in hysterics,” Bryson says.“ The son told his father,‘ Dad, you can finally get to one of my basketball games now.’”
Bryson paused.“ We cry alot,” she added.
She also works with local nonprofits to secure vehicles for those who can’ t afford tobuy one. One recent beneficiary was Tyra Wright, asingle mom in Lodi with three sons. Her middle son, Justin Pagan, 14, has muscular dystrophy and uses awheelchair. Wright applied for financing several years ago for avehicle but was unable to get it. She was disappointed, but Bryson told her she wouldn’ tforget about her.
A year later, Bryson called Wright“ out of the blue” and told her she was getting one thanks to aBergen County organization called The Gift of Life America Fund.“ Nicole literally changed my life,” Wright says.“ Youcan tell when something is someone’ s passion. Nicole goes above and beyond.”
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Bryson also serves on the board of advisors of the Spring Lake Hope Foundation in Franklin Lakes, agroup that pays medical and related expenses not covered by insurance for children with rare illnesses and special needs. Through that foundation, she has been able to connect families to the funding they desperately need.
Since 2008, Christine Cerza of Bernardsville has purchased four vans from FTMobility. Cerza’ sdaughter, Carly Zukowsky, 23, has atype of muscular dystrophy and uses apower wheelchair.“ I’ ve known Nicole since she was working for Al,” Cerza says.“ I instantly fell in love with her. She has the biggest heart in the world.”
Cerza says it’ simportant to know who you’ re dealing with when you buy this kind of vehicle.“ There are different kinds of ramps and so many options,” she says.“ Ialways trust Nicole to know what’ sgoing to be best for our family. Iwould never buy avan from anyone else.”
Years ago, Cerza says, people like her daughter were all homebound.“ This enables them to have anice life,” she says.
In addition to selling vehicles, FTMobility also rents them to people who have atemporary disability caused
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ALL PHOTOS: PROVIDED BY NICOLE BRYSON |
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20 2025 EDITION( 201) HEALTH |
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