AURORA, COLO. – The Home Builders Foundation (HBF) recently completed a custom stair glide, bathroom remodel, replacing carpet to hardwood floors and door widenings for Christine Layne, a 47-year old Aurora resident. 

 

October 28, 2016 will forever be the day that Christine’s life took on new meaning; the moment when everything changed in a second. It was a beautiful October day. Christine was headed out with her son, Austin and a few of his friends to enjoy the outdoors and celebrate his 17th birthday when Christine climbed on top of a boulder, accidently slipping and falling 75 ft. She remembers her son immediately rushing down to her side, not able to feel anything below her chest and knowing in that instant that she was paralyzed. Once her son and his friends were able to get her stabilized, they called 911 and she was taken on a flight for life to St. Anthony’s. The next few weeks were a blur for her as she learned and tried to make sense of what a spinal cord injury would mean to her life.

 

Since, Christine’s family has rallied behind her. She is a single mom to a 17-year-old son and also has an exchange student living with her, both still in high school. Christine’s sister flew out from Kansas and stayed with the boys at her house for the first few months while she was still in Craig Hospital and her mother is currently staying with the boys until Christine can move back into her home. She was recently released from Craig Hospital and then lived with her brother while the Home Builders Foundation completed the modifications to her home.

 

The HBF partnered with Project Captains Lennar Colorado and Accessible Systems to complete this two-part project for Christine. Lennar and their team of contractors tackled the bathrooms in her home as well as changing out the carpet to hard wood making it easier for Christine to get around her house. Accessible Systems installed a custom stair lift so Christine could more easily navigate between floors at her home without the assistance of others.

 

"Lennar has always had a strong culture of giving back to the communities in which we build.  The HBF is a perfect partnership for us because both our associates and trades partners have opportunities to participate in various projects and see the impact of their hard work.  Few things in life make you feel as humbled and elated as seeing someone who once struggled with accessibility, be able to have their own independence."    - Ashley Reutter, Director of Purchasing at Lennar Colorado    

 

The retail value of the work completed for Christine’s was nearly $20,000. Thanks to all involved, the work was done at no cost to the Christine or her family. Christine could not be more thankful to the HBF for the work that has been completed on her home.

 

In addition to Christine’s remodel, Lennar Colorado has stepped up to Project Captain an accessible suite (bathroom and bedroom) addition to a home for Jesus, a 15-year old boy living with Cerebral Palsy in Aurora. The anticipated value of this of this project is between $80,000-100,000 and again, thanks to the HBF, Lennar Colorado and their trade partners, will be completed at no cost to the family. Stay tuned for more details as this project progresses throughout the year!

 

For additional details, contact Beth Forbes (bforbes@hbfdenver.org or 303-908-6300). To learn more about HBF and the services they provide, or to get involved with the organization as a volunteer, supporter or partner, visit www.hbfdenver.org.

 

About the Home Builders Foundation

 

The Home Builders Foundation (HBF) is the charity of choice for the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver and a metro-Denver nonprofit that partners with the homebuilding industry to provide home modifications at no cost for individuals with physical disabilities. Since 1993, the organization has helped more than 1,400 individuals with disabilities remain in their homes with dignity and independence. For more information, visit www.hbfdenver.org.