Kevin Chambers puts the newly built access ramp to use at his Hopedale home with the aid of mother Tara, father Don, friend Jeff Gervais and brother Brian. (Daily News photos by Mike Springer) |
| Community Rallies to Aid Paralyzed Hopedale Man Hopedale, Mass. - It took about two months of constant work - siding, roofing, constructing a ramp, widening doorways, building, putting in a new cooling and heating system - but the Chambers family now has a needed addition to their Hopedale home. Kevin Chambers, 23, was paralyzed in a pool accident five months ago and now requires a wheelchair to get around. In order to accommodate the new equipment, the Chambers family enlisted the help of dozens of people to build the 10- by 12-foot addition before Kevin returned home from the hospital. ``We were told it was a 12- to 14-week project,'' said Tara Chambers, Kevin's mother. ``It was done in seven weeks. People were working Saturdays and Sundays, nights. Everyone was willing to help out.'' Some people worked during vacation. A painter came in on New Year's Eve, left at 10:45 p.m. and came back to the house on New Year's Day by about 7 a.m. Kevin returned to his house Tuesday, where he was met by visitors, a ramp, a new bathroom with a wheel-in shower and a new bedroom. ``It felt good to be home,'' Kevin said in the expanded television room, with a blanket draped over his wheelchair. ``All the help's been amazing. I haven't witnessed it, but what I've heard, it's amazing.'' For the last four months, Chambers has been at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston. After the accident, when he hit his head on the bottom of a friend's pool in Westborough, Chambers was at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for 20 days. For a time, it was unclear if he would live. Since that time, Chambers has done large amounts of rehabilitation work and has regained some feeling in his left arm. ``It's pretty strong. I can do pulling, not a lot of pushing,'' he said, as a ``We Love You Kevin'' balloon drifted over his head and picture collages rested on the wall behind him. ``When I couldn't move anything, that was scary. When just my head moved, I felt trapped.'' At the hospital, he also hung out with friends and family. ``Not a day went by that we didn't have visitors,'' Tara Chambers said. In November, Chambers and his family made it out to a benefit dance in his honor, organized by friends and other volunteers. About 400 people showed up to the Myriad Ballroom in Mendon. ``It was a great night,'' Tara said. ``Kevin didn't want to leave.'' That night, Chambers had his neck brace off, which he had not done much before. The brace had offered support for his neck. ` `It felt like it was a bobble head,'' Kevin said. There is another benefit event on the horizon - a pasta and trivia night Feb. 23 at the Bellingham Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
three days each week. A lot of that food was transported to Boston, so Kevin did not have to eat hospital food every day. At the house last week, Margo Bakken, a family friend from Hopedale, brought over turkey and potatoes. ``The townspeople and other people have been wonderful,'' Bakken said. ``There was all sorts of coordination and cooperation, making it as easy as they can.'' Some of the workers were family and friends, but there were also volunteers that the Chambers had never met before. On a couple weekends, there were 10 contractors' trucks outside the home, said Donald Chambers, Kevin's father. ` `There were times when guys were tripping over each other there were so many people here,'' he said. The family is hesitant to mention names because of all the people who helped out. But Kevin specifically said he wanted to thank Steve Gervais, the general contractor of the project; Brian Main, who did the architectural drawings; and Rich Landry, who did a lot of the construction. ``Rich became our wake up call in the morning,'' Donald said. Steve Gervais coordinated much of the effort, bringing in materials and workers. Gervais was able to secure a lot of the materials and labor at cost. In addition, some items were donated and a lot of the work was volunteered - creating a savings Donald estimates in the tens of thousands. ``Everyone pitched in and we got it done,'' said Gervais, whose son Jeff pulled Kevin from the pool after his accident. ``I'm sure he's happy to be home. '' Now the family is playing it by ear, Donald said. ``We're happy to see more movement,'' Jeff Gervais said. ``Every week, every month, you see something improving.'' This week, Kevin will embark on a new rehabilitation program called Project Walk. He will also do outpatient work back at the hospital in Boston. The construction work is not completely done. For example, the bathroom still needs a sink. But everything should be finished by the spring. The family planned to have a new van come in yesterday. Insurance has covered most of the equipment, but the family is still waiting on an electric wheelchair, which Kevin needs to get around by himself now. "My long-term goal is to get into a manual chair,'' he said. ``Whether it's possible, I don't know.'' For more information, visit www.KChambers.org. Paul Crocetti, Milford Daily News, January 20, 2008. HOME . |
