Several years ago, a list of the mantras that are at the heart of everything that BonaResponds does was made. While there were scores of these reasons, most could be boiled down to wanting to make the world better and to help others. While we cannot make the world perfect, we can all make the world better.
If you were to poll volunteers of their favorite job this past school year, I think helping Ray in Wilmington, North Carolina over spring break would win. Ray was a retired Special Forces operative with a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from Duke. He retired early to help his sick wife who died of cancer. He had a series of six heart attacks. He moved home to fix up a home for his mom and older sister. Then months after repairing the home, Hurricane Florence hit, and the house was lost.
We came in at the end of this recovery and had volunteers remove (and install) insulation, clean the home and help move the family back into their newly renovated home. What makes Ray so memorable was his attitude. Having lost everything, severe health issues and been out of his home for over six months, Ray was still just as happy and pleasant as could be. He even brought us food when we were working on a different job site. He will always be a reminder that bad fortune does not give license to be in a bad mood.
Locally, there have been so many incredible memories this year. We worked 45 weekends this year (we were on trips for five of the other weekends). From ramps for two World War II veterans and a Vietnam veteran, to school supplies, blanket and iPad work days, the list is quite amazing. But I have room to only write about two of the stories, so I will write about Kailyn and Bruce.
Kailyn is a high school student who cannot move her joints. Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, a crippling disease, has left her wheelchair bound. A teacher at her school contacted us and explained that Kailyn’s family had no ramp and that there were times when she had to sit outside, waiting to be carried into the house. Her electric wheelchair was so heavy that it was often left outside in the rain and snow.
Despite her physical challenges, Kailyn is a budding artist. She draws beautiful pictures by holding the pen in her mouth and is in school musicals. That can-do attitude rubbed off on all of us the day we went to build the ramp. It was one of the worst weather work days that I remember with the temperature in the 30s, high winds and steady rain. It was miserable. I love building ramps and this one was a real struggle. But unlike me, the volunteers never complained and Kailyn got a new ramp and more mobility than she has had.
Another local story is Bruce, who had been severely injured in a logging accident. The story of his accident in and of itself is amazing. A tree pinned him face down on the ground. With an outstretched hand, Bruce could just barely reach the still-running chainsaw that he used one-handed and behind his back to cut the tree off his crushed legs, which were somehow facing upwards.
With the weight of the tree off him, he could reach into his pocket for his phone, which had not broken and had one bar of service, and got a call to his wife before losing connection. She called 911, but there was a big problem: the first responders could not find him. A 25-person manhunt ensued.
Eventually, a retired firefighter heard the hunt on a scanner and told the searchers he had heard a saw earlier. That led to him being found, but it was a cold and windy day and his body temperature was in the 80s. Bruce still had to have hours of surgery and fight infections, swelling and immobility for over a month, during which his business suffered major financial losses and he was forced to sell off most of his equipment to make payments. But he was alive and determined to walk and work again.
Our story begins at this point. We were told of his situation and jumped into action, after a flat tire to our trailer on the way to his house, and in one day, the volunteers built a deck and ramp for him. It was a great day and ramp number 222 for BonaResponds. It was a ramp that will allow him to get to out of the house. It was a ramp that will allow him to go to physical therapy. This ramp will allow him to get back on his feet and back to work.
Bruce, could not have been any more thankful and determined to make it all the way back from his accident. In fact, he has already begun talking about coming to help us help others next year. And that is kind of what BonaResponds is all about. There is no “us” and “them.” It’s all just “us,” and we want to help each other.
We can’t make things perfect. Ray still has many challenges and has lost so much, Kailyn is still in a wheelchair and Bruce still has months of rehab ahead of him, but we did make things better. We did bring hope. We did remind those that we were helping that they are loved and that they were not forgotten.
These are just some of the stories that made this year so special. I thank all of the volunteers and those who made the year possible. And I thank the BV and all of you for reading and following me this year. I truly hope that you get involved in helping us to help others in the coming years. I am sure that you will be glad you did, indeed almost as glad as the people that you will be helping!
By Jim Mahar, Professor Columnist
jmahar@sbu.edu
