The Raines Family has a son named Landon. Here is the letter that the Raines Family wrote describing the scope of the need.

Landon Raines is our sweet little 3 year old son.  At 6 months of age, Landon was hospitalized with Heart Failure and later diagnosed with a very rare and very fatal Genetic Disease called Pompe Disease.  With this disease, Landon lacks an enzyme essential to every single muscle in his body, (from his tongue to his Heart) which prevents each muscle from breaking down glycogen, which is food that can be processed by these muscles.  Without treatment, these muscles begin to build up an excess of glycogen and muscle tissue is destroyed.

 

By the grace of God 3 days before Landon was diagnosed, the FDA approved a new synthetic enzyme replacement treatment for his disease.  Without this treatment, children don't live much past 18 months of age due to Heart Failure or Respiratory Failure.  Thankfully, Landon has responded well to the treatment, and now has minimal signs of Heart Failure, although he still has a very long and rough road ahead of him.

 

A year and half ago, Landon was hospitalized.  During this stay, he stopped breathing and had to be intibated, and ventilated.  He has since stopped breathing on us a total of 3 times.  He has been ventilated for about a year and a half now; he has a tracheotomy tube and is hooked up to his ventilator 24/7.

 

Landon doesn't walk, sit, talk, or eat.  He doesn't have any movement from his waist down.  He has ways to communicate, some signing and some his own adaptive ways of communication.  All the bedrooms in our house are up a very narrow and steep flight of stairs.  We carry Landon and his ventilator up and down these stairs several times a day, whether it is for a bath, medical needs, or just for bed.  I have fallen while carrying Landon down these stairs.  Thankfully, no one was hurt (but maybe my ego).  If you were to look in his room, you would be reminded more of hospital room than a little boy’s room.   We are currently waiting on the arrival of a wheelchair for Landon.

 

We have hopes to get him into a room on the ground floor, where he can move freely, and hopefully with time, learn to gain some independence.  We would like to provide a place where he can safely take a bath, and space to store a months worth of medical equipment.

 

Thank You,

 

The Raines Family  

The members of Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association were compelled to examine the situation further.  After meeting the family, it became apparent that we had to do something.

We have all been blessed with our own individual talents.  We build homes for families.  A well built home, where families can love and grow is one of the best legacies we can leave.  We asked all of our members to look within themselves and examine what their individual talents are and how they could utilize their gifts to benefit the project.  The most inspiring events began to happen.

Understand that the winter of 2009 was at a time when the depths of the economic down turn in our economy and the effects on the construction industry were at an all time low.  Most people were walking around in fear for their livelihood.  Employers were wondering how they were going to inform families that they no longer had work for them.  How could we as an industry ask for help at a time like this?

It’s amazing what can be accomplished when so many people simply give what they can.  The outpouring of emotion was inspiring.  The announcement for the project was made at a dinner meeting.  We showed a Video Clip of Landon that was produced by the church. We told our membership that this was too big of a project for a few people to tackle.  It would take everyone. 

We tried to break down the framing packages and materials into very small lots.  From there, we asked all of the Lumber yards, Manufactures, Wholesalers, Distributors, Contractors and Subcontractors to commit to helping us with one of the lots.  With in a week we had over 90% of all of the materials and labor.  Some contributed more than others, but everyone contributed what they could.  Those that couldn’t donate materials or money offered their labor.

One of the most inspiring events was to witness everyone that competes with each other on a daily basis, set everything aside to join hands and accomplish something amazing together.  To date, we have had contributions from 8 different Lumber Suppliers and many Contractors.  It’s nothing short of humbling. 

Please visit our progress update page on this web site.  Be sure to examine the list of contributors to the project.  We have also included the video clip of Landon and his Family for you to watch.

Blessings

Skagit/Island Counties Builders Association (SICBA) Raines Family Project Update  

This is a timeline of events and the progress of the project.

• April 15, 2009 - George Deasy from The DeasyGroup did the design work for the project and Clemens Rossell from CJR Engineering did the engineering on the Project. 
• April 27, 2009 - Brian Zylstra from Zylstra Homes dug out the foundation grade.
• May 1, 2009 – Parr Lumber donated the rebar for the project and delivered it to the job site.
• May 5, 2009 - Jared Hanson from Oso Lumber along with Kyle Raines framed the foundation forms.
• May 9, 2009 – Concrete Nor’west along with Conco Pumping delivered the concrete and the foundation was poured.  Jared Hanson and Kyle Raines finished the foundation work.
• May 11, 2009 – Lumber Packages were delivered
• Builders Alliance
• Parr Lumber
• Mount Vernon Building Center
• Cascade Lumber
• Tri-County Truss
  
  
• May 12, 2009 – For the next week, we had many contributors help with the framing of the addition.
• Chris Deasy of Christopher Homes
• Nate Kaplan of Kaplan Homes
• Rigo Rodriquez of Spane Buildings
• Kyle Raines of Platinum Structures
• Many others
  
  
• May 14, 2009 – Trusses were delivered by Try-County Truss
• May 16, 2009 – The roof sheathing was installed by Kyle Raines and his Father-in-Law.
• May 18, 2009 – Kevin Krause from Krause’s Roofing installed the roofing underlayment 
• May 21, 2009 - Gary Wray from Laser Construction along with Russelll Hester from OrePac Building Products / DuPont Tyvek installed the House wrap.
• May 26, 2009 - Ed Clark from Right Way Plumbing Heating A/C installed the plumbing and bathroom fixtures provided by Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting.  Jon Small from Right Way Plumbing Heating A/C installed the duct work for the HVAC.
• June 4, 2009 - Gary Wray from Laser Construction along with Russell Hester from OrePac Building Products / DuPont Tyvek installed the windows, exterior door and sided the profect with windows provided by Jed-Win Windows, doors provided by OrePac Building Products
• June 5, 2009 - Gary Wray from Laser Construction along with Russell Hester from OrePac Building Products / DuPont Tyvek installed Hardie Lap  Siding provided by ProBuild-Clinton, ProBuild-Coupeville and Lumber Products.  Metal Flashing was provided by Champion Metal of Washington.
• July 10, 2009 - Chris Deasy from Christopher Homes, Jesse Trujillo from Ground Zero Construction and Kyle Raines demolished the existing wall adjoining the addition.
• July 14, 2009 - Ben Burton from Arrow Insulation insulated and air sealed the walls and under floor assemblies.
• July 22, 2009 - Drywall Installation and Texturing was completed by Skagit Drywall Inc under the direction of Bob Moe.  Materials and Stocking Services were provided by CertainTeed Corporation and CB Wholesale.
• July 24, 2009 - OrePac Building Products donated the interior molding and door package for the project.  Material Handing services were provided by E & E Lumber located in Sedro Woolley.
• August 20, 2009 – Becky Tjersland from Designs by Arlene and Great Floors combined efforts to provide and install carpet and vinyl for the project.
• August 21, 2009 – Kyle Raines began painting and installing the doors and millwork provided by OrePac Building Products.
• September 8, 2009 – Dunn Lumber provides the material for the back Deck.  Russell Hester & Mark Hopkins from OrePac Building Products will be building the deck.
• September ?, 2009 – Bob Johnson from Ward-Johnson Masonry & Tile is installing the Brick Masonry in front of the home.
• September ?, 2008 – Kevin Kartak from AAA Kartak Glass & Closet Inc will be customizing a closet to store not only Landon’s clothes but all of his medical equipment.
• September ?, 2008 – Jim Spane from Spane Buildings will be pouring the concrete ramp in front of the house for wheel chair access.
  

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