A recent two-foot amputee from Langley City received an early Christmas gift from Church in the Valley and its Acts of Kindness team on Dec. 24.

Sandra Murphy, with her husband Ken at her side, was in Abbotsford hospital on Christmas Eve 害羞草研究所� having just lost both her feet and several of her fingers to amputation.

The Langley City couple was surprised when a delegation from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church paid them an unexpected visit, but shocked beyond words when they learned the real motive for the stopover.

Murphys will be the 2020 recipients of the Extreme Home Repair, explained AOK pastor Michael Dauncey.

害羞草研究所淲e figure this news today could be something to brighten up the negative situation right now,害羞草研究所� he said of the decision to announce next year害羞草研究所檚 recipient just ahead of Christmas.

AOK organizers Lorne Brownmiller was also on hand for the announcement at Sandra害羞草研究所檚 hospital bedside.

害羞草研究所淲e believe you guys really deserve a Christmas to remember害羞草研究所� you害羞草研究所檝e had a rough go,害羞草研究所� Brownmiller said.

AOK害羞草研究所檚 annual Extreme Home Repair program sees a team of businesses and community volunteers go in and retrofit homes for people who cannot afford or are not 害羞草研究所� for various reasons 害羞草研究所� able to do the needed restore their home to a safe and liveable standard.

For the past 17 years now, the Aldergrove-based AOK team has tackled these home renovations, typically taking upwards of two weeks in May. The Murphy home will be transformed between May 1 to 18, Dauncey confirmed.

They害羞草研究所檝e done about two dozen such repair and renovation projects for deserving people. The jobs have ranged from small projects such as a new roof to total re-dos, he explained. Up to a few dozen nominations a year are received.

The Murphys, including their adult daughter Jillian, were nominated by Aldergrove害羞草研究所檚 Bella Howet, and her sister, Lola. The sisters have know the family for 53 years, and Bella was the one to surprise the Murphy害羞草研究所檚 by announcing the news on Tuesday.

害羞草研究所淵ou guys are the most deserving people I know,害羞草研究所� Bella said.

害羞草研究所淚t couldn害羞草研究所檛 happen to a nicer, more deserving family,害羞草研究所� she added between sniffles and hugs.

害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 believe this. Nothing like this has ever happened to us,害羞草研究所� Sandra said, turning away from her guests to hide the flood of tears she kept wiping away from her face. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 so amazing,害羞草研究所� she added.

Ken was almost at a lose for words as the reality sunk in.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 so awesome, you guys. Thank you,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hank you for just being there like this. This is such an awesome thing.害羞草研究所�

Murphys bought a Langley City rancher a few years back, as a fixer-upper project they were going to work on together 害羞草研究所� Ken being 害羞草研究所渢alented with carpentry,害羞草研究所� Dauncey explained.

Sadly, a number of issues arose for the family since then, making the renos impossible 害羞草研究所� at least short-term. In fact, given Sandra害羞草研究所檚 amputations, the initial plans for retrofitting the house changed. The only priority was to make it wheelchair accessible throughout, so Sandra could get around in her own home, Bella explained.

害羞草研究所淭hey are a good family with true Christian beliefs and have always opened their house and home to those who needed it. Now they need the help害羞草研究所�害羞草研究所� she said in submitting the request for the AOK team to help the Murphys.

After their son died in the summer of 2016, the loss took its toll on this family, Dauncey elaborated. And through all this, Sandra has battled health issues for many years.

Then, just a few months ago, while travelling in the States, Sandra took sick and ended up in hospital with only 85 per cent of her heart working.

Doctors did what they could to stabilize her, then airlifted her back to Canada.

Because of Sandy害羞草研究所檚 declining health, Ken left his job to be at her bedside while she was waiting for the amputation of her feet and parts of her hands.

害羞草研究所淣ot only do they have this on their plate, but now they have a home Sandra can害羞草研究所檛 return too,害羞草研究所� Bella said.

Admittedly, although Ken professed to be 害羞草研究所渉andy,害羞草研究所� he knew little of what he would have to do to modify their home so it can accommodate Sandra and her wheelchair.

At the very least, she explained, they害羞草研究所檒l need a larger, wheelchair-accessible bathroom, and a ramp to allow access in and out of the house to make it habitable for Sandra.

害羞草研究所淚 do not know what other problems they will have concerning the house,害羞草研究所� Bella added.

Dauncey said the selection of this year害羞草研究所檚 recipient for the Extreme Home Repair was not as difficult as many in past. The Murphys need help, and need help immediately.

害羞草研究所淭his has all occurred just in the last few months,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淗ow devastating to lose limbs like this害羞草研究所� this family could really use some help right now害羞草研究所� this is definitely a special Christmas gift for them.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭his is a true blessing,害羞草研究所� Sandra said. 害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 believe this害羞草研究所� This kind of thing doesn害羞草研究所檛 happen to us.害羞草研究所�

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