LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Fourteen-year-old Alyssa Arledge has lived in a wheelchair her entire life.

Born with spina bifida, a condition doctors warned her mother would offer little or no quality of life, Alyssa has defied the odds to become a vibrant, outgoing young woman eager for independence.

The home she lives in with her parents and younger brother, however, provides little opportunity for that.

As she is unable to easily leave the house without assistance, and had difficulty maneuvering her wheelchair around the home, Alyssa’s mother Sarah reached out to Habitat for Humanity Lake County to learn if there was any way they could help.

After a thorough evaluation of the home and discussing Alyssa’s needs with Sarah Arledge, Habitat for Humanity Lake County, as part of their Critical Home Repair Brush of Kindness Program, was happy to be able to come to their aid.

The program provides an array of repairs to low-income households throughout Lake County.

To date, they have assisted more than 300 households with health and safety and accessibility-related repairs In addition to providing qualified families with homeownership opportunities, helping families like the Arledges is one of Habitat for Humanity Lake County’s primary missions and goals.

A new sink was installed to accommodate Alyssa’s wheelchair and the bathtub has been adapted for accessibility.

One interior doorway was widened to provide access to the rear entrance where a handicap ramp was installed to give Alyssa access to the garden she has planted and loves to tend.

Best of all, a wheelchair lift has been installed at the main entrance of the home so that Alyssa can come and go as she pleases without relying on someone else to carry her chair up and down the stairs.

On the day the lift was installed, Habitat staff was present when Alyssa arrived home from school to see it and use it for the first time. The delight on her face as she maneuvered into the lift and rode it up to the front door on her own, without needing the aid of family to do so, was a joy to behold.

“You guys have helped me so much,” Alyssa said to Habitat’s staff. “You were always rushing to help and I am so thankful for all you have done. It has changed my life so much and I will be forever thankful. Thanks to you, I can be more independent and can go outside without needing help. I hope other people find you guys and see how wonderful you are. Knowing you were there to help me makes me very happy.”

Alyssa and her family expressed their ongoing gratitude throughout the entire process. It is that gratitude, and the happiness on Alyssa’s face, that fuels Habitat’s commitment to continuing their efforts in bettering the lives of Lake County’s families.

For a short video of the celebration and unveiling of the lift, or for more information about the work Habitat for Humanity Lake County offers, please visit http://www.lakehabitat.org.

If you or someone you know might benefit from Habitat for Humanity’s home repair services or are in need of housing, please contact the office at 707-994-1100, Extension 108, or stop by and talk with us about your needs and to pick up an application.

Additionally, there is an ongoing need for buildable property and for wheelchair ramps and lifts to assist people like Alyssa.

If you or someone you know are able to help, please contact Habitat for Humanity to discuss how you can help.

Tammy Brigham is administrator for Habitat for Humanity Lake County.