The holidays are a joyful time to spend with loved ones, but for one St. Louis family, the joy of this holiday season is tempered by sadness.
Ten months ago, 29-year-old Kristy Brooks’ life changed forever when her husband, 32-year-old Tom, died in a freak accident. He suffered severe head trauma when he fell down the basement stairway in the family’s home and hit a concrete wall. Tom died after being in the intensive care unit for three weeks, leaving behind Kristy and the couple’s three young children ages, 6, 4 and 1 year – one of whom has special needs due to multiple birth defects. The family now relies on Social Security benefits as their sole source of income.
Unbeknownst to Kristy, family members contacted the Angie’s List Wishmakers program and asked for help with various home improvement projects. At the top of the list was a bathtub to make it easier for Kristy to bathe her children. Before the project, the family had only one shower stall.
Two highly-rated St. Louis companies, Striking Renovations and Midtown Home Improvements, answered the Wishmakers request for help.
“We strongly believe in giving back to the community. Having families of our own, our team was touched by Kristy’s story. We can’t imagine experiencing her loss and are happy to be in a position to help.” said John Yacovelli, partner at Striking Renovations.
Barry Ginsburg, owner of Midtown Home Improvements, graciously provided all the material for the nearly $10,000 remodel; which includes new flooring, fixtures and sink, as well as a new bathtub to replace the existing shower stall.
“We are thrilled and honored to be able to help a family that suffered a traumatic loss. We hope that these improvements may be able to add a spark to their lives in the coming years,” Ginsburg said.
Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List, the nation’s premiere provider of consumer reviews, said the bathroom remodel won’t fill the void of Kristy’s husband, but hopes it makes the family’s day-to-day life just a little easier.
The makeover will be an early Christmas present to the Brooks family. Demolition will begin on Monday Dec. 19 and the project is scheduled for completion on Dec. 23.
The Wishmakers program has been around since 2004 and has granted 41 wishes to date.
Previous Wishmakers projects include:
- Various home improvements for five veterans in the Washington, DC area.
- Repairs air conditioning for Dallas-area family who had gone with out cool air for more than two years.
- Installing a new concrete walkway and steps for a Pittsburgh family whose daughter is stricken with Crohn’s disease.
- Providing a plumbing work and a new bathtub surround for a Milwaukee woman who suffers from multiple health issues.
- Giving a wounded soldier’s mother in Atlanta, Georgia, a new kitchen sink and dishwasher.
- Providing a new roof for a Shaker Heights, Ohio family who lost their three young daughters in a house fire.
- Helping a Chicago family move into a new house when their home was foreclosed after the death of their 11-year old daughter.
- Building a room addition on to the home of an Indianapolis family whose little boy has the “Bubble Boy” disease and has to live in sterile isolation.
Nominations are accepted via email at WishmakersRequests@angieslist.com.
Angie’s List collects consumer reviews on local contractors and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 2 million consumers (1 million paid households) across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts, the Angie’s List magazine and help from the Angie’s List complaint resolution service.