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 The
Johnson’s have had some real curveballs thrown their way,
with mother Heidi being diagnosed with melanoma, and her son Will
being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). This Massachusetts
family, however, has kept a positive outlook and become an inspiration
for all they meet.
Heidi runs a parent-volunteer program helping to educate the public
about disability, and also champions an SMA support group. Other
members of the family participate in activities such as the Boston
Marathon in order to raise money for SMA research.
 Will
does his best to live the life that any young, energetic boy would
have. He loves baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox. You might
think playing ball would be rough for a boy with trouble walking,
but Will runs the bases in his power scooter, making the best of
his situation.
The family has tried to build a first floor bedroom for Will to
make things easier, but the renovations got to be too much. That’s
when Extreme Makeover: Home Edition stepped in.
Deciding to give the family multiple stories in their home, ThyssenKrupp
Access was contacted and decided that a Minivator® model elevator
would be a great fit to get Will and his scooter between floors.
When ThyssenKrupp Access showed up with the Minivator, the old house
had been demolished, and there was no second story and no roof on
the new home. The installers were worried but the general contractor
said, “Wait 20 minutes” and sure enough the roof came
rolling down the road on a flat bed truck, ready to go!
Like a beehive swarming with worker bees (in blue Extreme Makeover:
Home Edition T-shirts) the crew went to work, some of them helping
to install the new Minivator. The installation was done in one day
and a State of Massachusetts inspector was there in the morning
to approve the whole thing.
Will’s grandfather was thrilled and said the elevator was
going to make the whole project worth it. The elevator, along with
a replica of Red Sox Landmark, Green Monster, in the back yard thrilled
the whole family. Will even got visits from Red Sox players Curt
Schilling and Jason Varitek.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, with the help of ThyssenKrupp Access
and the Boston Red Sox helped to build an easily accessible, fun,
functional home for the Johnson family so they can keep giving the
hope and inspiration their hometown is proud of them for.
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