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Shelley Osterloh ReportingThere was an emotional homecoming tonight for a Sandy family who have had a lot of difficult challenges in life. The Smeltzer Family knows what it's like to reap the benefit of friends and neighbors who just built them a new house.
Owning a new handicap accessible home is more than the Smeltzers had ever imagined. They stood behind the big bus, anxiously waiting to see what we've watched materialize in just two weeks.
Their old house was demolished because it was rundown and David couldn't get a wheelchair in the door. So volunteers from the organization, Heart to Home, built a new one. Hundreds of skilled laborers worked practically on top of each other to beat the deadline.
As the house took shape, the volunteer spirit grew with more volunteers and donated supplies. While family members had a little make-over of their own, decorators added the final touches -- David's accessible bathroom, Vickie's Victorian bedroom with words of inspiration.
Breann has the same degenerative nerve disease as her father; her room has angels.
More than thousand volunteers worked on the home and many were there to see the Smeltzer's reaction. Inside it was one joyful surprise after another.
David: "It's impossible this can't be my house. Can't be my house."
Reporter: "And for the first time you are in you own home in your wheel chair too."
David: "I came through the front door, in my wheel chair."
Vickie: "This is..... Oh... This is gorgeous look at this."
Through tears of gratitude and awe, the Smeltzers thanked those who had worked so hard.
David Smeltzer: "I don't think there is a way we can say thank you long enough."
Vickie Smeltzer: "It's as though someone knew our needs our wants our hopes, our wishes and our dreams. It's all here."
David Smeltzer: "And built it into one package."
A home, built with love.
