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Operation Dream Makeover
9/24/2007
Every day thousands of courageous American men and women stand in harms way as they serve in America’s armed services. As this war takes its toll on so many families, the members of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) and its charitable arm, the Builders Outreach Foundation, wanted to find a way to offer their thanks and to honor the service and sacrifice of so many.
When they met Kyle Anderson, a Marine wounded in Iraq in 2004, they knew exactly what to do and created Operation Dream Makeover. During the coming months, with the help of two BATC remodelers, Kyle’s home will be remodeled to say thank you to a selfless hero who lost so much yet through it all retained an incredible spirit and enthusiasm for life.
The design phase of Operation Dream Makeover is underway now, with new plans posted shortly on the website, accessible on the home page of www.paradeofhomes.org or www.wccoradio.com. Construction will commence this fall, and then next spring, during the new spring edition of the Parade of Homes Remodelers ShowcaseSM (March 28-30), Kyle’s newly remodeled home will be open for viewing. During construction the website will post progress reports and lots more.
About Kyle: a true American 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 the world on a string and 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 scull. 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. “There is not a soul in the Minneapolis VA that doesn't know Kyle,” says his mom, Mary Kylander. “He salutes all the men and woman who served and he is thumbs-up to EVERYONE.”
In early December, 2005, Kyle was finally released from the hospital. His injury caused considerable loss of movement on his right side and has 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 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.
About the Remodeling Project: A Rambler Renovation
With the help of his dad Tim, Kyle was able to buy a home last year where they live together with Kyle’s brother Matt. The arrangement allows Tim and Matt to help Kyle with day-to-day tasks, make sure he gets to therapy, and do what they’ve always done, support each other through whatever life throws their way. Kyle is blessed with a dad who raised him to be a champion and who now devotes himself to Kyle. Tim, with Matt’s help, is committed to ensuring Kyle has every opportunity possible to recover much of what he has lost.
The rambler Kyle bought really does have a lot of potential, and sits on a beautiful wooded site in Inver Grove Heights. The problem: it just doesn’t work well for this household of three men. New Spaces designers Kathe and Curt Ostrom met several times with Kyle, Tim and Matt to discover what they like about their home, and what areas could be improved.
Then the Ostroms created a plan that would rearrange main floor spaces so that the kitchen, great room and dining area will be more functional for the whole family as well as a comfortable gathering space for friends and visitors. They added a front porch to give Kyle a place to sit and watch the ball games played at the park across the street. With just a few tweaks, Kyle and Matt’s main-level bedrooms and baths will become easier to navigate. And a new lower-level bedroom suite will move Tim from his make-shift bedroom in the living room, ensuring each has a private retreat all their own.
About the Remodelers: Flynn Construction and New Spaces
When we learned about Kyle and decided we wanted to help, eight Builders Association of the Twin Cities Remodelers submitted requests to participate. Due the the nature of remodeling, it was necessary to select one application, a very difficult decision. (Read about some of the other remodelers on our website, click on the Operation Dream Makeover button on www.paradeofhomes.org.)
In the end, New Spaces and Flynn Construction, which had submitted a proposal to work together, were chosen. These two companies provide award-winning expertise in design and construction, and are excited to begin work.
Flynn Construction
Working in the remodeling business since 1980, Bob Flynn knew it was his life’s passion. Opening the doors to Flynn Construction in 1991, Bob has created a business that combines top-quality craftsmanship with his personal commitment to the satisfaction of each and every client. He has earned several awards from peers in the remodeling industry including his most recent, a 2007 Remodeler of Merit AwardSM (ROMA). His company's work has been featured in the Star Tribune, Mpls St. Paul magazine, Midwest Home, Cottage Living, and the book On the Porch.
Bob has stayed on top of the latest trends and honed his business acumen by earning a number of credentials over the years, including Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designations from the National Association of Home Builders, and is a Certified Remodeler (CR) through the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
Bob was excited to become involved with Operation Dream Makeover. He has an intense passion to help members of our military to pay them back for their service to protect our freedom. Bob’s father served in World War II and his son served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the United States Marine Corps. His son was a gunner on a small tank that was one of the first to enter Iraq in the initial invasion. Later he was deployed to Afghanistan where a close friend of his was killed by terrorists.
“We all owe a huge debt to anyone who has gone to war on our behalf,” explains Bob. “I am thrilled to offer my professional expertise to help Kyle Anderson and his family remodel their home.”
New Spaces
New Spaces is a residential design/build remodeling company committed to providing homeowners with a positive experience when they improve their most valuable asset - their home. Over 25 years ago, owner Doug Nelson started his business providing handyman services. Today New Spaces supports 28 full-time professionals experienced in design, lead carpentry, project management, support and marketing. In this family owned business Doug works with his wife Carol, who handles accounting and project estimation and his son Shawn, who is the President of New Spaces and founder of New Spaces Express, a division focused on smaller home updates and handyman projects.
Shawn, along with designers Kathe and Curt Ostrom, are taking point on the design and management of this project. The Ostroms, who merged their successful remodeling firm, CN Ostrom & Sons, with New Spaces a few years ago, have years experience and an eye for designing the perfect solution to any remodeling challenge. Kyle and his family agreed when they saw the preliminary designs.
“Our entire company is excited to get behind this effort,” says Shawn. “Everyone wants to have a hand in the project because their hearts are already there. Even better, Kyle and his family are a true joy to work with.”
About The Builders Outreach Foundation
The Builders Outreach Foundation (BOF), the charitable arm of the Builders Association of the Twin Cities (BATC) has been constructing homes for low-income families since 1994, mostly in the Frogtown area of St. Paul. To date, they have constructed over a dozen homes there, meeting their mission to help families who otherwise might not have the opportunity to own their own home. By tapping the experience and talents of the members of BATC who donate their time and materials, the Foundation’s mission is to “make a difference one home at a time.” All of our volunteers are very honored to be a part of Operation Dream Makeover.
About our Partner WCCO AM Radio
WCCO Radio is owned and operated by CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States. WCCO 830AM is the region's most trusted source for news, weather, and traffic coverage. WCCO 830 is one of the few 50,000 watt clear signal AM heritage stations in the United States with massive reach covering nearly all of Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. CBS RADIO also has made aggressive moves to converge new and traditional media through creative programming and advanced delivery methods, including online streaming, HD Radio and podcasting. For more information, please visit www.830wcco.com.
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