Doug Kaufman wrote:

“I wish to publicly thank the Sisters Habitat for Humanity (SHFH) organization and its members and staff.

Approximately two months ago, I was told by my PCP and a specialist to immediately go to the Bend St. Charles Hospital ER because of pain and swelling in my lower left leg.

It turned out to be quite serious.

So serious, in fact, that my lower left leg was amputated below the knee within the following 24 hours.

Needless to say, this event left me stunned and dismayed.

I was overwhelmed by this sudden schism in my life and all the repercussions it was going to have in both my long-term and day-to-day existence and lifestyle.

Unbeknownst to me, Ms.

Kris Powell (manager at the SHFH ReStore whom I’d worked with for sometime) was thinking about 20 steps ahead of me.

She realized that since I was going to be wheelchair-bound for some time, I’d be needing a ramp up to my front or side porch in order to have access to the inside of my home.

Well, Kris got very proactive and got ahold of SHFH Program Manager Kristina Maxwell and Executive Director Sharlene Weed, who brought in Construction Manager Sam Humphreys, who brought in the marvelous Habitat construction crew and together they managed to put in a beautiful and durable ramp and front-porch extension before I came home on March 28.

I can never thank enough all the wonderful people at SHFH, as well as the many wonderful friends and neighbors from this community, that have come forward to assist me at this low point in my life.

Thanks again, to all of you!”