A recent two-foot amputee from Langley City received an early Christmas gift from Church in the Valley and its Acts of Kindness team on Dec. 24.
Sandra Murphy, with her husband Ken at her side, was in Abbotsford hospital on Christmas Eve 91Ƶ having just lost both her feet and several of her fingers to amputation.
The Langley City couple was surprised when a delegation from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church paid them an unexpected visit, but shocked beyond words when they learned the real motive for the stopover.
Murphys will be the 2020 recipients of the Extreme Home Repair, explained AOK pastor Michael Dauncey.
91ƵWe figure this news today could be something to brighten up the negative situation right now,91Ƶ he said of the decision to announce next year91Ƶs recipient just ahead of Christmas.
AOK organizers Lorne Brownmiller was also on hand for the announcement at Sandra91Ƶs hospital bedside.
91ƵWe believe you guys really deserve a Christmas to remember91Ƶ you91Ƶve had a rough go,91Ƶ Brownmiller said.
AOK91Ƶs annual Extreme Home Repair program sees a team of businesses and community volunteers go in and retrofit homes for people who cannot afford or are not 91Ƶ for various reasons 91Ƶ able to do the needed restore their home to a safe and liveable standard.
For the past 17 years now, the Aldergrove-based AOK team has tackled these home renovations, typically taking upwards of two weeks in May. The Murphy home will be transformed between May 1 to 18, Dauncey confirmed.
They91Ƶve done about two dozen such repair and renovation projects for deserving people. The jobs have ranged from small projects such as a new roof to total re-dos, he explained. Up to a few dozen nominations a year are received.
The Murphys, including their adult daughter Jillian, were nominated by Aldergrove91Ƶs Bella Howet, and her sister, Lola. The sisters have know the family for 53 years, and Bella was the one to surprise the Murphy91Ƶs by announcing the news on Tuesday.
91ƵYou guys are the most deserving people I know,91Ƶ Bella said.
91ƵIt couldn91Ƶt happen to a nicer, more deserving family,91Ƶ she added between sniffles and hugs.
91ƵI can91Ƶt believe this. Nothing like this has ever happened to us,91Ƶ Sandra said, turning away from her guests to hide the flood of tears she kept wiping away from her face. 91ƵIt91Ƶs so amazing,91Ƶ she added.
Ken was almost at a lose for words as the reality sunk in.
91ƵIt91Ƶs so awesome, you guys. Thank you,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵThank you for just being there like this. This is such an awesome thing.91Ƶ
Murphys bought a Langley City rancher a few years back, as a fixer-upper project they were going to work on together 91Ƶ Ken being 91Ƶtalented with carpentry,91Ƶ Dauncey explained.
Sadly, a number of issues arose for the family since then, making the renos impossible 91Ƶ at least short-term. In fact, given Sandra91Ƶs amputations, the initial plans for retrofitting the house changed. The only priority was to make it wheelchair accessible throughout, so Sandra could get around in her own home, Bella explained.
91ƵThey are a good family with true Christian beliefs and have always opened their house and home to those who needed it. Now they need the help91Ƶ91Ƶ she said in submitting the request for the AOK team to help the Murphys.
After their son died in the summer of 2016, the loss took its toll on this family, Dauncey elaborated. And through all this, Sandra has battled health issues for many years.
Then, just a few months ago, while travelling in the States, Sandra took sick and ended up in hospital with only 85 per cent of her heart working.
Doctors did what they could to stabilize her, then airlifted her back to Canada.
Because of Sandy91Ƶs declining health, Ken left his job to be at her bedside while she was waiting for the amputation of her feet and parts of her hands.
91ƵNot only do they have this on their plate, but now they have a home Sandra can91Ƶt return too,91Ƶ Bella said.
Admittedly, although Ken professed to be 91Ƶhandy,91Ƶ he knew little of what he would have to do to modify their home so it can accommodate Sandra and her wheelchair.
At the very least, she explained, they91Ƶll need a larger, wheelchair-accessible bathroom, and a ramp to allow access in and out of the house to make it habitable for Sandra.
91ƵI do not know what other problems they will have concerning the house,91Ƶ Bella added.
Dauncey said the selection of this year91Ƶs recipient for the Extreme Home Repair was not as difficult as many in past. The Murphys need help, and need help immediately.
91ƵThis has all occurred just in the last few months,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵHow devastating to lose limbs like this91Ƶ this family could really use some help right now91Ƶ this is definitely a special Christmas gift for them.91Ƶ
91ƵThis is a true blessing,91Ƶ Sandra said. 91ƵI can91Ƶt believe this91Ƶ This kind of thing doesn91Ƶt happen to us.91Ƶ
.
_________________________________
Is there more to this story?
roxanne.hooper@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on or follow us on
_________________________________