We have been asked by John Merritt, Construction Coordinator, Economic Development for the City of Greenville, to partner with them on the home of 66 year old Ms. Melvena Koury at 106 Parkins Mill Rd. in Greenville. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2011, has since had a mastectomy and is currently on chemo from which she has numerous side effects. She is a single parent with a with a 25 year old daughter studying nursing at Greenville Tech while working full time.
The City will be renovating the two bedroom one bath home. They have asked us to tear off the enclosed back porch and replace it with an enlarged new laundry room. This will allow her to move the washing machine out of the kitchen. Also, the gas hot water heater is outside under the kitchen window which does not comply with code. Therefore, it will be moved into the porch with venting per code as well.
PROJECT DETAILS
Ahead Of Schedule
Thanks to the great help of Les Pritchard, Bill Hagler, Dick Sargent and Goudy Miller on Wednesday, not only were we able to tear the porch off in record time but we dug the footings and laid in the rebar. This allowed us, with the help of John Merritt, to get the inspection done first thing yesterday. (That was truly a God thing!) With a lot of heavy lifting and good old manual labor Les and Dick got the footings poured and prepped for laying the block tomorrow. Even though Ms. Melvena is physically ill from her chemo treatments she comes out to encourage the troops. (see picture below)
Our next scheduled work dates are next week, October 17,18 & 19. We will be framing up the porch and getting it in the dry.
The Difference A Week Makes
Many thanks to Terry Strout for spending his Saturday laying block for the foundation. This allowed us to move forward as scheduled with the framing teams last week. We were able to get to the point of calling for the framing inspection on Friday which we passed this morning. Now we can work Wednesday, 10/24, to install the windows, door and drier hook ups which will allow us to turn the project over to John Merritt with the City of Greenville to complete.
Of course, Ms. Melvena is extremely excited to have a safe and secure laundry room and can’t wait for the further remodeling of her home. She offers a big “Thank you!” to all who participated in this project. Please continue to pray for the success of the chemo treatments and her full recovery.
The Difference A Week Makes
We have successfully completed our phase of the project to remodel Ms. Melvena’s home. Her laundry room is now dried in and secure. The City will now take over and spruce up the inside of the home as well as replace the roof and siding.
We have been truly blessed through our work and prayer times with Melvena. She has been very brave in the face of her cancer, mastectomy and chemo. Please keep her on your prayer list as the chemo makes her nauseated. In spite of it all she has a great attitude. Prior to getting sick she was in the restaurant business for years. Yesterday she said she “didn’t know what God has in store for her. Whether He wants me cooking up there or down here. But whatever it is , I’m ready.” What a great lesson. Whatever He has in store for us may we all be ready.
Ms. Melvena is most grateful to all who made this project possible with their time, talents, resources and most of all prayers.
The Difference A Week Makes
“FOR YOU AND THE PRECIOUS PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REBIRTH OF MY BACK PORCH…I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH!
THROUGH THE INFINITE OF GOD’S WISDOM AND HIS HOLY GRACES, I AM RECIPIENT OF KINDNESS IMMEASURABLE…I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH!
THE NEW ROOM IS FAR BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS AND TO EACH INVOLVED I OWE MUCH GRATITUDE.
SINCE IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO PERSONALLY THANK EACH ONE INVOLVED, I WILL PASS ON THE SAME GOODNESS AND SHARE THE SAME KINDNESS TO OTHER DESERVING SOULS. . I WILL “GIFT” THEM AS YOU HAVE GIFTED ME , AND PRAY THIS WILL BRING BALANCE TO THE PROFOUND GRATITUDE I FEEL IN MY HEART.
THE KINDNESS SHARED HAS BECOME A PERMANENT AND DEEPLY EFFECTIVE ENTITY IN MY LIFE AND WITHIN MY HEART…AND I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH.
WHEN CANCER TREATMENTS ARE OVER AND MY LIFE BACK TO NORMAL, I WOULD BE HONORED AND BLESSED TO PREPARE AND DELIVER A FEW LUNCHES TO YOUR WORK CREW. IT IS A SIMPLE MATTER FOR US TO KEEP IN TOUCH AS TO THE TIME ELEMENT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
I THANK YOU…I THANK THE WORK CREW…I THANK THE HIGHER POWER…FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS BESTOWED!”
SIGNED,
MELVENA KOURY, PERSONAL CHEF
MEMORABLE MEALS BY MELVENA…864-313-7304
