MILTON — Thanks to the help of a local business, 66-year-old Hank Colling and his 6-year old grandson Caleb Hallman can spend more time together.

While they never will be able to play catch or do a lot of other things most grandfathers and grandsons do, they can now load their guns and head to the range with custom-made rifles that fit onto their motorized wheelchairs.

“It means a lot to them, a lot more than it means to me, and it means a lot to me,” said Nate Hallman, the father of Caleb and son-in-law of Colling. “We don’t want to hold them back, and this is a great way for them to be one of the crowd.”

Life-changing moments

After growing up in New Jersey, Hank Colling spent almost four years in the Navy before marrying his wife, Mary. A proud submariner — still a member of the U.S. Submariners Association — Colling’s life changed forever when he was 23.

While working for Bell, he was injured during a fall, breaking his neck and leaving him a quadriplegic.

That has not stopped him. He’s been involved in various causes for the physically disabled since the injury. A member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Colling, of Williamsport, is the president of the Center for Independent Living of North Central Pennsylvania, an organization that offers services to people with disabilities, including help with meal preparation and housing assistance.

Different kind of challenge

Caleb Hallman, the son of Nate and Jacinta Hallman, of Turbotville, was born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, a joint condition that developed before birth. AMC limits the motion of the joints in the arms and legs, but can hinder movement in all joints.

“Basically, Caleb’s joints did not form properly in the womb, and he was born like a pretzel,” said his father.

Caleb has undergone numerous surgeries since birth, and he continues to work with a physical therapist at least once a week. While he walks with braces on flat surfaces, he also uses a motorized wheelchair to get around.

“He tells me that he wants to be like the other kids,” said his father. “He just doesn’t want to be different.”

Getting away

Because Nate and Jacinta Hallman want to keep things as normal as possible for Caleb — the oldest of three brothers, joining Bailey, 3, and Max, 1, — they are always looking for different outlets to keep him busy.

“I don’t want him to feel left out in anything we do,” said Nate Hallman. “He wants to walk, and he wants to do what other kids do, so I always try to find something that the two of us can do together.”