Friends help make home livable for Howell woman
Accident in 2004 put Claudia Thomas in a wheelchair
BY SHARON LEFF
Correspondent

Top, a ramp built onto Claudia Thomas' Howell home has made getting around a bit easier for Thomas, who was injured in an accident in December 2004. Above, a community effort resulted in significant renovations to Thomas' home, such as a larger bathroom to accommodate her wheelchair.

With renovations made to her home, and with the support of the community and her church, Howell resident Claudia Thomas is trying to return to the work she loved before an accident left her in a wheelchair.

As Thomas was driving on Route 9 near Georgia Tavern Road in December 2004 she saw that a motor vehicle accident had occurred. When she stopped to see if anyone needed help she was struck by a car. Her injuries required months of treatment and rehabilitation.

July 11 marked Thomas' one-year return home from the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. She lives on West Sixth Street with her sons, Billy, 30, and Kevin, 27. Both of her sons are also in wheelchairs because of a genetic disorder known as ataxia.

With the help of the Division of Vocation and Rehabilitation, Thomas is hoping to be able to go through classes in order to eventually be able to drive her van again. She said she is hoping she will be able to return to work with The Arc of Monmouth, which serves more than 1,500 individuals with mental retardation or related disabilities.

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Getting back to her old way of life has been made possible with the help of many community members, including Anna Ornstein.

"Anna is such a hands-on person. She more or less has wrapped her arms around us as a big sister and she has made sure we are assisted by many of the organizations throughout Monmouth County," Thomas said.

Ornstein said the renovations to Thomas' one-story house took six months to complete. Various fundraisers have included a 1970s dance and a block-party.

Thomas said her kitchen was widened, the bathroom was enlarged, a ramp was added outside, natural gas and central air conditioning were installed, and new appliances were installed.

During the time the renovations were being completed the Thomas house was not always habitable and at one point Thomas' son, Billy, lived with Ornstein's family.

Ornstein said she first heard about Thomas' accident through a community e-mail asking for get-well wishes. She found out where Thomas lived, and when she went to the house, she realized no one was doing anything to make it accessible for people with disabilities.

Ornstein said she initially thought that only the doors would need to be widened and a ramp would need to be installed. However, she soon realized the entire house would need to be gutted and redone. Ornstein coordinated the efforts and began making phone calls to ask people for assistance with the project.

Meanwhile, Howell resident and family friend Michelle Platzer took in Thomas' younger son, Kevin, while the house was being renovated.

"It was a challenge, but we pulled together," she said. "I have older teenagers in the house and we helped (Kevin) and practiced some safety things here for him to be able to stay here."

Platzer said that at times she has acted as a surrogate mother to Thomas' sons and said any help she provides them is because of how much she loves them.

Kevin graduated from Brookdale Community College in May and has left home to obtain his bachelor's degree in early childhood development at a college in Florida.

"Through all that I've had to go through it never deterred him from reaching his goal," Thomas said of her son. "Trust me, it was very, very rewarding and a most precious moment in our family."

Thomas' church in the Allenwood section of Wall Township, the Shore Christian Center, has also helped in the last year to ease her transition home.

In addition to providing transportation for Thomas, the church is "also my spiritual family and it's just been a tremendous outpouring of love to me," she said. "If there's anything I need that can't be done through the state or the county, they find the things that I need."

Speaking for the church, Glen Dalakian said congregants sat by Thomas' bedside while she was in the hospital and drive her van when she needs to get somewhere. He said the church raised money to help fund the home renovations.

Also, the Shore Christian Center provides a food pantry where people in need may obtain food.

"Claudia was very active in the church before she had her accident and the church has rallied around her since she has had her accident," he said.

Dalakian said Thomas still participates in the church's charity efforts, including feeding families in Lakewood.

"We continue to provide her with support in the areas of food and finance," he said.

Kathee Callan, who has known Thomas for four years, has also helped Thomas when she can. She said she considers Thomas a wonderful friend, mentor and inspiration.

Callan said she and Thomas have a passion for starting a mentorship program for young girls that they are still working toward. Despite the accident, Callan said Thomas never pities herself.

"She's always up, she's always positive," Callan said of her friend.

Thomas is grateful for the help of the community and her friends.

"So many people have touched our lives and I just don't know where to start to thank them all," she said.