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Operation Dream Makeover Update
Our Builders Outreach?Foundation, with the help of innumerable members of the Builders Association, remodeled his Inver Grove Heights home over the winter of 2008. Kyle, his dad Tim (his primary caretaker) and his brother Matt were making due in a home that left no room for guests and little privacy for each family member. Our goal was to provide Kyle with a layout and features that would better accommodate his needs today and in the future, but also challenge him as he improved. Everyone involved was totally charmed by Kyle, so we wanted to give you an update on how things are going.
Kyle, Tim and Matt invited me over in late January to catch up. When asked how many words he’s able to say now, Kyle plainly stated “two - three - five.” He still uses a lot of gestures to communicate, and clearly made his point about having good days and bad days like everyone else.
He continues to spend a lot of time in speech, occupational and physical therapy, and said that his occupational therapy was the worst. He was in the midst of an online poker game when I visited, It’s an activity he really enjoys and it’s great for his hand-eye coordination as well as brain function. Even better, he told me that he wins more than he loses!
Tim and Matt are obviously very proud of how hard Kyle has been working, but don’t cut him a lot of slack. The south deck shoveling is up to Kyle, and he was the one who got the sponge and scrubbed out a spot on the quartz countertop while we were chatting.
With the new layout, Kyle’s friends have been able to spend a lot more time at the house. And like most young men, he joins them for a night out every few weeks, too.
“This layout has been perfect for us,” explained Tim. “It’s allowed us to do exactly what we had hoped, begin to live a normal life again.”
Kyle concurred with two thumbs up and a resounding “nice!”
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