Spring Break
Eastern NC family gets 'extreme' makeover
Brittani McNeill
Issue date: 3/19/09 Section: News
An Eastern North Carolina family was featured on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
The family of Jeff Cooper, a former Army combat medic, was chosen for this seasons "Heroes Helping Heroes" episode. The Cooper family (Jeff Cooper, his wife Clara, and children Aaron and Wendy) is from Jamesville, NC.
Cooper is a decorated Gulf War Veteran (Desert Shield/Desert Storm), who suffers from Gulf War Syndrome and multiple sclerosis, which confines him to a wheelchair.
Another member of the Cooper family, son Aaron, also faces physical challenges. Aaron was injured two years ago after being run over by a garbage truck. Although Jeff Cooper was able to use his medic skills to save his son's life, Aaron lost most of his right arm, and has been through several surgeries.
However, the family is still devoted to helping others. Jeff Cooper is a dedicated advocate for fellow veterans. He lobbied the NC General Assembly for a special license plate honoring Gulf War Veterans, and he is a member of the Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities, where he is a strong advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. Jeff's daughter, Wendy Cooper, has signed up for medical lab technician training with the Army National Guard.
On March 6, the family's double-wide trailer was torn down by a group of volunteers, led by Edenton Builders, Inc. The trailer had been decaying, and had many problems including bad wiring, a sinking roof and a rotting ramp-problems especially difficult for a family dealing with disabilities.
Many volunteers from the community surrounding Jamesville, including students from local colleges, helped to build the new home for the Cooper family. Volunteers worked 24 hours a day (in eight hour shifts) for a week, to make the family's dream come true, and many sponsors donated building materials and furnishings. The ECU Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC) helped to recruit ECU students to assist with the project. According to Michael Loeffleman, volunteer coordinator for the VSLC, Edenton Builders contacted ECU about a month in advance to ask for the center's help with soliciting volunteers.
The family of Jeff Cooper, a former Army combat medic, was chosen for this seasons "Heroes Helping Heroes" episode. The Cooper family (Jeff Cooper, his wife Clara, and children Aaron and Wendy) is from Jamesville, NC.
Cooper is a decorated Gulf War Veteran (Desert Shield/Desert Storm), who suffers from Gulf War Syndrome and multiple sclerosis, which confines him to a wheelchair.
Another member of the Cooper family, son Aaron, also faces physical challenges. Aaron was injured two years ago after being run over by a garbage truck. Although Jeff Cooper was able to use his medic skills to save his son's life, Aaron lost most of his right arm, and has been through several surgeries.
However, the family is still devoted to helping others. Jeff Cooper is a dedicated advocate for fellow veterans. He lobbied the NC General Assembly for a special license plate honoring Gulf War Veterans, and he is a member of the Governor's Advocacy Council for Persons with Disabilities, where he is a strong advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. Jeff's daughter, Wendy Cooper, has signed up for medical lab technician training with the Army National Guard.
On March 6, the family's double-wide trailer was torn down by a group of volunteers, led by Edenton Builders, Inc. The trailer had been decaying, and had many problems including bad wiring, a sinking roof and a rotting ramp-problems especially difficult for a family dealing with disabilities.
Many volunteers from the community surrounding Jamesville, including students from local colleges, helped to build the new home for the Cooper family. Volunteers worked 24 hours a day (in eight hour shifts) for a week, to make the family's dream come true, and many sponsors donated building materials and furnishings. The ECU Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC) helped to recruit ECU students to assist with the project. According to Michael Loeffleman, volunteer coordinator for the VSLC, Edenton Builders contacted ECU about a month in advance to ask for the center's help with soliciting volunteers.
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