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Operation Dream Makeover, A Remodeling Project to say Thank You

Last fall we introduced you to Operation Dream Makeover, a remodeling project we have undertaken as a way of saying thank you to Kyle Anderson, one of the countless veterans who have sacrificed so much in service to our country. This spring we’re very excited to be able to show you the finished project, and give you an opportunity to meet the heroic young man for whom many, many companies and individuals have worked so hard over the past six months.

The remodeling process has been fun, with a few ups and downs like all projects. Kyle and his dad, Tim and brother Matt, have been regular visitors to the site — first to watch with trepidation during the demolition phase, and later to see the progress as their beautiful new living spaces took shape.

Since November, many, many members of the Builders Association and its Remodelers Council have volunteered to make this project happen, often working late into the night and over many a weekend. But each has given gladly, proud to be associated with Operation?Dream Makeover. They all invite you to visit to see their handiwork, but also to celebrate a new chapter in Kyle’s life — a time when he can comfortably invite friends to visit for a game of pool or to watch a movie on the new entertainment center; when he can relax on the front porch to catch the softball game at the park across the street; and when he can retreat for some quiet time to his bedroom suite after a grueling day in speech or physical therapy.

Kyle Anderson, A True Hero

Strength, courage, perseverance, and an indomitable spirit are just a few adjectives to describe Kyle Anderson. He is a young man who, just a few short years ago, had a future that anyone would envy. As a child, Kyle was always on the go. He loved sports and discovered he excelled at wrestling after his big brother Matt took up the sport and needed a practice partner. He entered and won the National Iron Man championship in Oklahoma when he was just 16. Kyle made varsity wrestling in the eighth grade, and entered the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament for five consecutive years, capping his high school career by dominating his 160-pound-weight class and winning the State title in 2003.

Back then it was apparent Kyle had the ability, the drive, and the heart of a champion. “Kyle came to me after a disappointing state tournament performance in 2002 and said, ‘Coach I have to win it next year, what do I need to do?’” explains Simley wrestling coach, Will Short. “Kyle and I sat down and developed a plan that I believed if he followed, he would win the state tournament. Kyle never missed a workout that was scheduled on that plan, and at the end of his senior season in 2003, became a state champion with a 48-2 record.”

With a number of colleges in hot pursuit offering full scholarships, Kyle carefully considered his options and chose, instead, to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps by serving in the Marines. He was struck by the Marine tradition of honor and duty, and wanted to test himself by joining the best of the best. Kyle finished boot camp at Camp Pendleton in San Diego with highest honors as best shooter and company honor man, which he repeated at the Battalion level.

With so many honors and plenty of opportunity within the Corps., Kyle’s choice was to serve at the front, and was deployed to Iraq in May of 2004. Just one week before the event that would change his life, Kyle displayed once again that he was truly a champion by saving the life of a fellow Marine coming under heavy enemy fire. Risking his own life, he pulled his gravely injured comrade to safety.

On October 13, 2004, Kyle’s patrol was returning to base and, as usual, he was the first one out of his humvee just as an RPG struck. The blast sent shrapnel through his helmet, crushing his skull. His doctor in Baghdad told his parents that he could tell immediately that Kyle was a fighter, and that most people would not have survived that first week. He was evacuated through Germany to Bethesda, Maryland where he spent over a month, facing many life-threatening surgeries and procedures, all the while in a coma. He was flown back to the Minnesota Veterans?Administration Hospital in early December where he began intensive therapy and endured additional operations. It wasn’t until January that he was considered fully out of the coma.

In early December, 2005, Kyle was finally released from the hospital. His injury caused considerable loss of movement on his right side and has gravely affected his speech center. Despite his devastating injuries, he continually strives to be the best he can be and takes every day one step at a time. He has been working hard to re-learn language, currently up to about 25 words. And with the same strength of purpose that made him a wrestling champ, he endures the intense physical therapy that is helping him regain some control of his right side.

Today, Kyle won’t have any sympathy. He has a tremendous attitude, caring more about others than himself. He can communicate with gestures and has an infectious smile that will win your heart, like he has everyone who has met him. We are very honored to be a part of helping make his life a little easier.

Operation Dream Makeover Design?Statement

The legal term for Kyle’s status is “protected adult.” This means that he requires 24/7 care and immediate response from police/fire fighters/medical emergency personnel. His brain injury has resulted in limited peripheral vision, hearing aids in both ears, as well as very limited use of right arm and leg. He experiences pain more acutely, has a limited vocabulary, and problems maintaining his balance. His needs require someone to be onsite with him 24/7. Currently, Kyle lives with his father Tim and brother Matt, but this is Kyle’s home and his security.

For all these reasons and more, the plan that designers Curt and Kathe Ostrom developed creates three bedroom suites in Kyle’s home. The largest is a lower-level suite for an on-site caregiver, currently, and hopefully for some time to come, this role is held by Tim. Since moving into this home in 200?, TIm has camped out in the living room so he could be physically close to Kyle at all times during his early convalescence as well as because there just wasn’t any other bedroom/bath location for him. As Kyle has progressed in his therapy he doesn’t need someone at his side constantly, so creating the caregivers’ suite in the lower level was the perfect solution. ?With a bedroom, sitting/office and bath, plus an adjacent family room, this area provides privacy for Tim today, and in the future if Tim cannot care for Kyle, it will easily fit the needs of another on-site caregiver adult or a couple.

The second suite on the main floor is for Matt. He has been sharing a shower with Kyle and making use of the guest powder room for his personal space. He has moved home to help with Kyle’s care, but is starting his own business, which requires some office space. The new suite creates a small bedroom/office/bath combination for Matt now, and in the future could be used by an active or part-time caregiver in conjunction with a primary caregiver living in the lower level suite. This will give flexibility to persons caring for Kyle in his home for the foreseeable future.

The home’s original owners’ suite was a key reason the Andersons selected this home for Kyle after his injury. It does work reasonably well for Kyle, but by making some strategic changes, it works better. The now private shower is sized so that Kyle can reach a grab bar from any position while standing under the showerhead, and includes a shower bench with a handheld spray so he can sit if he feels the need. The toilet has been moved so a future grab bar could be installed on his left side. The closet is minimal because he has only a couple things he hangs up, which include his Marine uniform; and he’s adamant about keeping his large dresser for folded garments. The passage door to bedroom and bath has been widened and the bath maintains wheelchair radius turning space should it ever be needed.

Tim stressed the importance of creating a home where Kyle’s buddies will come to spend time with him without having to retreat to his bedroom or go someplace else to hang out together. To that end, the entry, living room, kitchen and dining room were opened up to flow gracefully together. The dining room houses the pool table and dart games, the kitchen island can handle dinner, snacks or a competitive game of poker, and there’s lots of space to gather and watch football on the TV in the living room.

The kitchen includes a number of features to help Kyle function more on his own. The upper cabinet shelving pulls down for easier one-handed access. The dishwasher is raised so he doesn’t have to bend over as far. A pull-out shelf is placed directly below the microwave as a “drop zone” for hot items. Drawers and rollouts will be the norm for storage. And the appliances will include an induction cooktop, a refrigerator with a bottom freezer plus an icemaker as Kyle isn’t able to get ice out of a standard tray with one hand. The island is kept to a single 36-inch height so Kyle will always have his feet firmly planted on the ground without climbing onto a higher stool.

Hardwood flooring throughout the main level means Kyle won’t have to maneuver his right foot over various floor surfaces. And his balance issues combined with his desire and need to do things for himself means Kyle spills things frequently, which has been a cleaning nightmare with the existing carpet.

On the exterior, Kyle has asked for just two things, easier access to the back yard and a front porch where he can comfortably watch all the ballgames that are played across the street in the park. The first was accomplished simply by moving the deck stairs. The second was incorporated into the new front facade with a new gable roof on the garage to avoid the drainage problems the old flat roof created. The new rear entry and closet were tucked into the existing garage space so Kyle would have direct access to the home without going outside.

The end result is that Kyle’s needs have been accommodated, today and into the future, as has his desire to remain as independent as possible. The new layout will allow him to stay in this house even if his father is unable to provide him with 24-hour care. And best of all, the design will allow Kyle, Tim and Matt to return to some level of normalcy after three very difficult years of focussing exclusively upon Kyle’s rehabilitation.

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