Adam Prudhomme
Editor
An online fundraising campaign is supporting a pair of Napanee retirees who saw their dream house turn to a nightmare following the discovery of asbestos throughout the home.
Family friend Valerie Hughes launched the Go Fund Me campaign on behalf of Jeanette and Kelley McLeod. The couple moved to Napanee last year from Belleville in an effort to be closer to their doctors as they undergo ongoing medical treatment.
Kelley, a retired military medic who was medically released following two tours in Somalia and Rwanda, required a few upgrades to the home to make it more accessible. It was during the initial stages of those upgrades that the asbestos was detected in the ceiling. That prompted a deeper inspection which soon confirmed their biggest fear-the toxic material was and all throughout the house, packed within the drywall.
“That’s not something that they check for during a house inspection,” said Jeanette. “At the time when we bought the house, they were still going without conditions or anything. So we found out it had it in all the ceilings throughout.”
Along with asbestos, they learned the wiring within the home isn’t up to code and would have to be replaced as well.
“Now we have to leave our home,” said Jeanette. “My husband is a disabled veteran and we have to move everything out of the home and the house will be gutted right down to pretty much nothing. The kitchen’s all got to come out because the asbestos is in the walls. When we come home we’ll be coming home to a home pretty much down to nothing.”
Veterans Affairs has stepped up to cover the cost of their motel stay while renovations are done to the home. But as for the actual cost of the repairs, they’ve already maxed out their loan and their insurance company has stated they won’t cover any costs.
“They do everything for everyone,” Hughes says of why she launched the Go Fund Me campaign on their behalf. “She volunteers every time she can to help veterans with PTSD, they talk to people that need help, they go above and beyond. Any clothing, any food gets donated to nursing homes and seniors homes. I felt that because they’re struggling so bad that the couple absolutely needs help. They certainly deserve it.”
The issues with the home are taxing enough, but they also have to deal with the everyday struggles of their medical conditions. Kelley suffers from PTSD as well as his physical injuries from his time overseas. Jeanette is a stroke survivor.
“It’s just been one nightmare after they thought it was going to be there forever dream retirement home,” said Hughes. “The stress on them has just been gigantic.”
Anyone community support would be greatly appreciated, it doesn’t have to be financial.
“If any tradesman that could share a few hours, if there’s anyone who can donate some of their time for some of the painting that has to be done or help drywall because they’re both unable to do it,” said Hughes. “Any person that can help get them back into their home would definitely be appreciated because they’re going to go back to a gutted home which is basically a shell so they have to start all over.”
The Go Fund Me campaign has a goal of $40,000. To donate to the cause, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/jeanette-and-kelley-mcleod?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer.