PHOENIX (AZFamily) —Sharon Bates is a lifesaver, one heart at a time. She runs the Anthony Bates Foundation, a nonprofit group named after her son, who died 25 years ago from a heart condition.
On Your Side’s Gary Harper asked, “When they told you he had a heart issue, what did you think? Sharon replied, “Not my son. Exactly. Because he had no symptoms. He didn’t have any warning signs.”
Sharon’s foundation tests all kinds of people, both young and old, in hopes of detecting hidden heart conditions. When she’s not testing in her office, she and her husband travel the state using this 2013 Mercedes van to haul all of their medical equipment for tests.
However, for the past 10 months, their van has been sitting in a parking lot, unable to be driven. “I can’t go to southern Arizona. I can’t go to the Indian reservations. I can’t go anywhere else without my van.”
Ten months ago, Sharon asked her mechanic to change the van’s transmission fluid, which he did. But following a test drive, the van broke down. And it hasn’t been driven again since January. It ground up the transmission,” Sharon said. “Completely ground it up. You can’t even drive it.”
According to Sharon, the mechanic had purchased Valvoline transmission fluid from a reputable auto part supplier. However, the database they used provided the incorrect Valvoline fluid type, and that improper fluid was poured into Sharon’s van.
“He contacted Valvoline, and they said, Let’s test the fluid. And once the fluid was tested, they said, yes, this is the wrong fluid for this vehicle.”
Sharon tells On Your Side that Valvoline was apologetic and agreed to pay for all the damages, including the cost of installing a new transmission. But that was 10 months ago, and Sharon says Valvoline has stopped communicating with her.
So, On Your Side got involved. Will Mair, Sharon’s husband, said, “You know, you’re (Gary Harper) straight up. You don’t pull any punches, and you get stuff done. That’s why we came to you because we’re run out of options.”
On Your Side got in touch with Valvoline Global, which immediately requested that Sharon and her husband resubmit the paperwork to reimburse them for the new transmission. The couple did, and says they’re currently waiting for Valvoline Global to submit them a check. Sharon and Mike say that with the help of On Your Side, they’ll hopefully be back to work in no time.
“I don’t know why, but for some reason, they’ve been dragging their feet, and we can’t keep going on like this. (Sharon) She needs to get this resolved. We need to get on the road and save some more lives,” said Will.
Well, On Your Side has some great news to report: Valvoline Global has submitted a check to the nonprofit for $10,000. That’s just for the expenses the organization incurred while being without a vehicle, such as van rentals.
Additionally, the original van is receiving a new transmission, and Valvoline Global has agreed to cover the entire cost.
When that happens, On Your Side will let you know in a follow-up report.
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