A gift too big to wrap

By Jill Gosche, jgosche@advertiser-tribune.com


FOSTORIA — No roll of wrapping paper would hold enough giftwrap to package a gift the Parsons family received Sunday afternoon.

When Cindy Parsons moved to be with her son, U.S. Army Cpl. Shane Parsons, after he was injured in Iraq, mold from a water leak destroyed their Fostoria home.

But thanks to national, state and local agencies, the family has a new two-story home at 1754 N. Union St.

“There’s just not enough words to express our gratitude and how we feel,” Cindy said during the home presentation Sunday. “At one point in our life, we didn’t realize how things can happen, change in a minute, especially when you don’t have a home. … Without a home and homeless, it’s very difficult.”

The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes paid $130,000 for a new home for the Parsons. Kenny Alphin, or “Big Kenny,” from Big & Rich — a country group who partnered with the coalition — paid another $10,000 to help the family buy furniture, according to information from the coalition.

“This is what Christmas is all about, family and friends here to celebrate a gift to them,” said Daniel Vargas, director of the coalition’s Family Support Network.

“This is what Christmas should be about. I think we get so caught up on the PlayStations for the kids and the iPods, and things like that, and this is what Christmas should be about is being able to do something for somebody else.”

The home comes free of charge and is handicapped accessible — complete with lowered light switches and shelves — to accommodate Shane, 22, who lost both legs after a roadside bomb hit him and his gunner when he was driving the lead Humvee during an Iraq mission Sept. 30, 2006.

“I think my favorite part is that Shane is able to take his wheelchair into any location down here, and he’s not running into walls or having to get out of his chair because his chair doesn’t fit and to see that he can take his wheelchair up to his sink in his bathroom, and he can actually wash his hands without any problems,” Cindy said.

“I think that is my absolute favorite and also that everybody had worked together. This home’s just made out of love and support for a wounded warrior and his mom.”

Vargas said Cindy and Shane will be in Fostoria until Jan. 6. Cindy said she and Shane will return to Texas for more rehabilitation, and Shane will undergo surgery to take care of pain caused by his prosthetic.

Cindy said she’s not sure when she and her son will return to Fostoria to stay because of his continuing rehabilitation.

Shane, who stays at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, said his recovery period has been difficult, but he has accomplished every goal.

“I’m feeling fantastic right now,” said Shane, whose father died when he was a baby. “I’m still strong as much as I can be, still lifting, benching, trying to make everybody happy for my mother, making her proud, just working myself really hard.”

The journey to Sunday’s celebration started when Cindy called the coalition — which is a non-profit organization that helps wounded soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq — and discussed some of her needs. During the conversation, the organization learned of her house and insurance struggles.

“After we got off the phone with her, I called my boss and said, ‘This is a travesty,’” Vargas said. “You should not be coming back to the United States and not have a home to come to. That’s unacceptable.”

Dennis Debelak, owner of D&D Home Improvement, helped design the floor plan for the new house. Debelak, a U.S. Army veteran and father of five sons, said Shane is just like another son, and his heart goes out to him because he’s so young.

“I just can’t imagine that happening to anybody that young,” he said. “His outlook is good. … He’s a great kid.”

Three of Debelak’s sons — Brian, Eric and Ryan — helped out as subcontractors.

Brian said he couldn’t believe Shane’s story when he heard it, and he said he would work on the Parsons’ project first.

“He’s always been there for his friends,” said Eric, who was a friend of Shane’s at Fostoria High School. “I just wanted to help as much as I could.”

When Cindy and Shane toured their new home for the first time Sunday, they were greeted by family and friends.

“Family, friends, it’s the best,” Shane said. “Can’t have nothing more.”

On the Web:

Big & Rich:

http://Loveeverybody.com

Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes:

www.saluteheroes.org

Shane Parsons:

www.caringbridge.org/visit/shaneparsons