Lila, who experienced a brief period of paralysis in her hind legs, is one of the canine models for 15 students at Jonesboro Health, Wellness and Environmental Studies Magnet School who are building wheelchairs to help paralyzed dogs move around. Work began after Summitt and her family returned home from a Labor Day weekend trip to learn Lila was having trouble with her back legs because of two slipped discs in her spinal cord. [...] Summitt thought it would make for an interesting project for students; giving them a hands-on activity to utilize their math skills. The school's sixth grade gifted and talented students began by researching the project before splitting up to work in groups of two or three. Maggie Ferguson, 12, said the wheelchairs are made out of PC pipes and straps with dogs measured to ensure the pipes are cut the right length. With Lila regaining use of her back legs, Summitt said the Memphis veterinarian who performed Lila's surgery was interested in helping students find other paralyzed dogs who are in need of the wheelchairs.