Just when you think people don’t care, they will spring a surprise!

Egan Home Health nurse Linda Bradford noticed one of her patients, Geraldine Laine, did not have a wheelchair ramp.

Laine’s friends call her “Teri” and describe her as a very sweet person. A victim of polio, she has never let her disability stop her, but she is only mobile in her wheelchair. Unfortunately, without a ramp, she was unable to leave her home to go outside without assistance.

It was quite a day when concerned friends and others gathered at the home of Geraldine “Teri” Laine to construct a wheelchair ramp for the disabled resident. Shown above in front at Egan Home Health Nurse Linda Bradford, Laine and her friend, Laney. On the second row are Sonja Courtney, Toye Courtney, Pat Courtney, Lisa Holmes and Wendell Holmes. On the back row are Adam Courtney, Annette Seal, Rollon Courtney and Tracey Courtney. Shown below with Laine, left to right are Magic City Band members Shirley and Lavon Gibson and Jimmy Dale. Advertisement

Bradford, concerned about the situation, talked to her husband, Steve of Steven Bradford Trucking. He discussed it with his sister, Lisa and her husband,Wendell Holmes of Holmes’s trucking. Everyone seemed eager to help.

This was the beginning of something older people used to call a “barn raising”, only it was a “ramp raising”.

Bradford contacted friends and businesses, and then they talked to Rollon Courtney for details on construction of a ramp. Courtney contacted his son Adam and his brothers, Toye and Tracy Courtney for help.

Laine loves music and the Bradfords wanted to make the day special, in addition to building a wheelchair ramp. They called Magic City Band members Lavon and Shirley Gibson of Poplarville. Some of the band had plans for the day, but the Gibsons agreed to bring their personal Karaoke equipment to give Laine some special music. Their daughter Valerie Gibson, her daughter Jasmine, and stage hand. Jimmy Dale Bond from Poplarville all came along. Everyone contributed to the music. Tracy and Lavon played the guitar while Rollon, Pat, Steve, Lisa, Shirley and Valerie sang with the Karaoke. Adam’s wife Sonja Courtney helped serve the meal.

Businesses donated to the event, including Bogalusa Lumber Company and Egan Home Health. The Bradfords thought about everything

possible from hammers to hamburger. Steve cooked and Linda organized. The day involved a lot of work, but also fellowship and fun.

Everyone pulled together for the good of

someone else.

The smile on Laine’s face made it all worthwhile for the participants.

This event will always be remembered by Laine as the day people showed they cared.