Rusty (left) and John (right) build a much-needed ramp onto Wade & Cecile's FEMA trailer. Both are using a week of vacation time to help with OBI's ongoing construction projects.

Wade and Cecile say they are grateful for the quick assistance from OBI and volunteers.

SLIDELL, La. - They work quickly and with seamless precision – John maneuvers the circular saw blade to slice cleanly through a block of two-by-four while Rusty measures for the next cut. The grinding buzz of the saw drowns out all other noises in this quiet Slidell neighborhood.

"You see it on TV, and you think, ‘they picked out the worst of it’," said Rusty, a 61-year-old steel worker from central Pennsylvania. "But they didn’t this time."

The destruction left by Hurricane Katrina is still overwhelming for both John and Rusty, cousins and life-long friends who left the hills of Pennsylvania to spend a week-long ‘vacation’ in Slidell to volunteer with Operation Blessing’s ongoing recovery efforts.

"We enjoy this type of work and grew up together doing it," said John.

On this particular day, they are building a handicap ramp for Wade and Cecile, whose four-bedroom home of 35 years sits just behind the FEMA trailer they now reside in.

"We’ve both fell off of it twice already," Cecile said, referring to the steps on their trailer. After calling relief organizations everyday for nearly two and a half months, Cecile and her husband began to lose hope for a solution, she said. "They told me, we’re coming tomorrow, we’re coming tomorrow. And tomorrow never comes."

Cecile’s husband Wade suffers from a painful varicose vein running the entire length of his leg. A Korean War veteran, he wears a supportive brace for his leg that limits his mobility and makes every step to and from his trailer a challenging one.

But his challenge was answered when Sam Constantine, construction coordinator for Operation Blessing walked into the city of Slidell engineering department where he worked. Wade placed a work order with Operation Blessing, and within days, John and Rusty were dispatched to his house to build a ramp.

"I’m sure grateful for what Operation Blessing has done," Wade said. "Sam told me he’d be with us in 2-3 days."

"We’ve had more kindness and more help from strangers like yourself," Cecile said. "It has tested our faith," she said as her eyes began to well up with tears, "but there’s a reason for everything."

A reason, Rusty himself knows all too well. As they make the finishing touches on the ramp that will help Wade and Cecile walk with ease into their home, Rusty looks forward to returning home and celebrate his own ‘walking miracle’ – his wife.

"She’s had two kidney transplants," Rusty said. "The last one she got was a year ago last October, given to her by my daughter. "But I’ll get home just in time to celebrate my wife’s birthday on Sunday," he added with a smile.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

 

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