Gambrills family gets home makeover

They applied to the Partnership for Housing Foundation and told them all about Danny, who suffered a brainstem injury as a child.

As a result, the Gambrills family was accepted into the organization's Maryland Home Makeover program, which, like a scaled-down version of the TV show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," helps homeowners with basic repairs and renovations.

The work - which resulted in a new section of the house devoted entirely to Danny - began in July and was completed last week.

U.S. Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Baltimore, and representatives from the Partnership for Housing Foundation attended a ribbon-cutting at the remodeled house Tuesrday.

Not only does Danny have handicapped bars in the bathroom, but he also has a family room where he can entertain, as well as a bedroom.

"My old bedroom was pretty small," said Danny, 22. "I can have women over now."

Qualified recipients of the Maryland Home Makeover program include households or family members of police officers, firefight-ers, veterans and those who are developmentally or physically challenged.

Danny's father, Michael, is retired from the Army and now works as a military contractor. He is home on leave from Iraq until September.

"Although we can never fully repay the debt we owe our veterans, we must honor their service by making sure their families are safe and secure back home," Sarbanes said in a statement.

Danny's health problems began in 1996, when the family lived in Fort Drum, N.Y. An undiagnosed diabetic, Danny suffered a diabetic stroke and went into a coma shortly before his ninth birthday. He was in a coma for several months, and doctors didn't think he would survive.

He was hospitalized for nearly a year and left with slurred speech, left-side paralysis, an unsteady gait and other problems. Michael Barry was then transferred to Fort George G. Meade, and the family moved to Maryland.

Once the family was settled, Danny was enrolled in the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, where he made progress. He completed the program last year and is now in a vocational training program with Opportunity Builders Inc., which offers training and social activities for disabled adults.

When Danny was released from the hospital, he began daily rehabilitation. At that time, Kathleen Barry said, she and her husband had hoped that Danny would be able to talk again, and anything in addition to that would be the "icing on the cake."

"And then somebody said, 'You're going to get your icing on the cake,' " she said. "We're still very overwhelmed and very appreciative. One thing we've always prayed for is just to have peace as a family."

The Maryland Home Makeover program received the help of Harkins Builders Inc., which also received assistance from contractors and suppliers. The Barry home is a split foyer with a garage and a garage entrance on the lower level, which now includes a bedroom, bathroom and family room set up for Danny.

The home previously had one bathroom on an upper level, and Danny's brother had to help him up the stairs. That bathroom also needed handicapped bars installed in the shower to keep Danny from falling. His new bathroom has everything he needs.

Overall, Danny is pleased with his new digs. He has a section that he plans to devote entirely to board games, his favorite pastime. He plays everything from chess and checkers to Sorry!, but admits that Operation is his favorite.

"I can do it without getting buzzed once," said Danny, who added that he also loves tabletop hockey. "I can beat anyone in that, because I have perfect hand-eye coordination."

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swoodards@capitalgazette.com