Hugo and Maite have been married for 9 years. They have two children, Daniel, 7, and Daniella, 5-years-old, who were born shortly after they purchased their family home in 2005. Daniella has several medical disabilities including seizures that have left her with brain damage and blindness. She is confined to her wheelchair and cannot speak or walk. At the age of 18 months, she underwent a Lobectomy to remove part of her brain. The family has endured many trips back and forth to Miami Children’s Hospital for multiple procedures that Daniella has had to endure in her short 5 years of life. They have recently celebrated a few milestones that Daniella has accomplished. Most recently, she has been able to sit up and roll around all by herself. However, this family is in desperate need of handicap accessibility throughout their home to make necessary tasks a bit easier. In a recent letter requesting help, Maite wrote, “It is when you have a special needs child that you appreciate the smallest things in life.”
This family would be very appreciative of any assistance that they receive and with the help of our partners, we are hoping to make this dream come true.
The bathroom in the home is ill-equipped and Maite is forced to carry Daniella into the bathroom each and every night as well as no wheelchair ramp leading to carrying Daniella in and out of the house. The current flooring is carpet making it very difficult to maneuver the wheelchair inside the home.
Today, employees of the Southwest Florida Division of Lennar and dozens of building partners began the project of a lifetime for this local family. Representatives from Lennar including Division President, Darin McMurray, addressed attendees about how each and every employee, 120 in total would touch the project in some way through landscaping, paint, flooring or more.
Hugo spoke to the crowd of 75 today with tears in his eyes, “We are all here together with Daniella and we are just very grateful for all you are doing.”
Olivia Rivera, Director of Client Services for Lee BIA Builders Care led the group in a prayer before demolition began. Within an hour, employees and partners had the house torn apart and ready for rebuilding.
Stay tuned to see more photos of the project unfolding. The family will return on Dec. 23rd to see their newly renovated home for the first time for the Christmas holiday.
Photos from today’s kick-off event HERE
Kick-Off video with Darin & Daniel leading the charge HERE
SPECIAL THANKS TO LENNAR AND ALL THE COMPANIES INVOLVED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
Carrigan Brothers | Moen | Kohler | Division 16 | Sea Gull Lighting
Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings | Mohawk Industries | Timo Brothers
Sherwin-Williams | Raymond Building Supply | Juniper Landscaping
TJ Turf | Coastal Canvas and Awning | Franceschi Marble & Granite
Prestige Cleaning of Southwest Florida | United Site Services
Southwest Disposal and Cleanup | Pinnacle Pool Construction
Creative Door and Millwork | Two Men and a Truck | Gouse Furniture
