You never know what someone has been through. For Gwinnett homeowner Annie, it’s been a lot.
Around 10 years ago, she got into a car accident, leaving her with a leg problem that has come and gone over the years.
“I was working for a Gwinnett County Library, but in 2019, I started having problems with my leg again,” she said. “My husband was worried about me, so he told me to stay home and that he was going to take care of everything. So I became a housewife.”
Then, Annie’s husband became sick, and soon, tragedy struck.
“My husband and I were married over 21 years,” she said. “On August 23, 2022, he had major heart surgery and didn’t make it; he passed away in the emergency room. It was very painful.
“When he passed away, my life totally changed. I didn’t know what I needed to do.”
The couple’s young adult son moved back home from Texas to help before his dad’s surgery and has stayed to help care for Annie since.
Not long after the loss of their husband and father, their 1969 home began to show its age, creating problems Annie simply had no idea how to fix.
“Last year, before Thanksgiving, the biggest window in my house fell out into the yard and broke,” she said. “It was really cold and raining, and I just stood outside for hours because I didn’t know what I needed to do.”
Thanks to the recommendation of a neighbor and the kindness of an understanding contractor, Annie was able to get the help she needed to have it fixed.
Annie’s husband’s life insurance money all went toward his medical bills. She does not yet qualify for disability. And she’s not able to work a full-time job due to her leg pain. Life has continued to be a struggle.
“I told my son, ‘It’s okay; we’ll start over again. I have my leg problem, but I will make it.’ I need a full-time job, but I’m not strong enough yet. I work at Wal-Mart, but because I don’t get enough hours and am a little bit disabled, my son covers me [working to pay the mortgage each month]. Every month, he supports me, but I feel very guilty.”
Annie hasn’t been able to keep up with her home’s repair needs. And while struggling to get by day-to-day, her garage needed fixing and the back deck needed serious repairs in order to be safe again.
While the county wasn’t able to help, they referred her to Home Repairs Ministries. That’s when things began to turn around for the better.
“I pray every night, and Jesus brought Home Repairs to me,” Annie said.
“I called, and they contacted me back very quickly. I was sent the application, filled it out and heard back that I qualified! Then Clarence [Home Repairs’ Project Manager] came to my house and did the inspection.
“When they came here, they helped me by bringing the love of God to me.
“I felt very cold last year after my husband passed away. But now I’m safe with Mr. Clarence and Mrs. Heather and the many volunteers who came to help fix everything with the deck. I really appreciate it.
“They are very experienced, very kind, and they didn’t ask me to pay for the repairs. I cannot say enough; it’s helped me a lot. I thank you from my heart.”
Home Repairs will be coming back soon to help Annie with her garage repair. Until then, she’s been inspired to create new goals for herself.
“My home still needs a lot of work, so I’m going to study and do some of it. I’m not strong now, but I will be strong,” she said.
“When I get to be strong and have everything put together, like Home Repairs helped me, I will help the next person who needs it. I want to pay back how you guys loved me – I will love other people too. You guys gave me power to become strong.
“Sometimes, I felt very sick, sometimes I felt a little dead – like I was losing. But now I’m very safe. Thank you again for everything.”
