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Virtual HabiTour

In the words of Executive Director Susan White, we proudly introduce you to the Rodreguiz family.

Let me tell you about one family in Hampton Place – the Nicholas and Rhonda Rodriguez family and their three children. Two members of this family have disabilities – the mother Rhonda has multiple sclerosis and diabetes and is wheel chair bound. The youngest child Brandon who is 8 years old was born with short gut syndrome requiring all his nutrition come from feeding tubes and robbing Brandon of the strength to walk or develop as a normal child.

When we first met the Rodriguez family, they were living in a two story apartment. It did not have air conditioning. It is bad enough to not have AC in Houston in the summer but it was tragic for Brandon Rodriguez. His body temperature was often too high to accept the platelet transfusions he required twice a week. Also, wheel chair bound Rhonda could not go up stairs, even to bathe, so her husband had to hose her off in the kitchen.

What a difference a Habitat house makes. Brandon’s health has improved to the point where he no longer needs transfusions. He is now walking and goes to school and takes care of a lot of his medical needs himself.

Rhonda enjoys the full run of her Habitat house that was built to Americans for Disabilities specifications – even in the shower! She is taking classes at Tomball College. Nick has also signed up for classes at the community college in hopes of finding a better job.

What makes this story even more exciting is that the Rodriguez house was built as part of Project Opportunity a partnership between Habitat, U.S.Home Corporation and the Special Olympics. We trained Special Olympics athletes to do certain tasks in building this house. Special needs people building in partnership with special needs people. What a wonderful statement this makes to the community about overcoming obstacles to a better world.

This is just one story about a Habitat family whose lives were transformed by the Habitat experience. This family has become more productive in all aspects of their lives. Habitat helps build stronger communities.