Home Makeover comes to Ambrose
Michelle Chalkey
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: News
"Every single day, you have the ability to make changes in people's lives," a 1998 St. Ambrose graduate told a room full of occupational therapy majors.
Angie DeLost came to SAU on Friday, March 20 to tell her inspiring story of how she used her role as an occupational therapist to change a family's life. For three years, DeLost has worked with ABC to get her client, the Grys family, on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Steve and Jeannie Grys have hosted over 250 foster children. Their 8-year-old son Jake, who they have adopted, suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which is a brittle bones disease. DeLost has been working with him through her job at Easter Seals in Peoria, Ill. The house they lived in was hazardous to him, so Angie did everything she could to get them a better home. About 40 to 50 people filled the ballroom of the Rogalski Center to listen to DeLost's story. Most of them were Occupational Therapy majors or faculty members.
DeLost described to the OT students just how much they can get out of their field. She advised them of things she has come across in her career that have proven to work best. One thing she learned is to be persistent, as she was with ABC. Another was to think outside of the box by asking what the client really needs, not just asking what the OT is supposed to do.
"Realize your limits," DeLost said. "If you can't help your client, think of who can."
DeLost realized when she and the Grys family couldn't adapt the house to Jake's needs she needed to find someone who could. With persistence and dedication, she got ABC's Extreme Makeover team to build them the house they needed to keep Jake safe. The new house will also allow the Grys parents to continue their dream of fostering children.
"I think this house will make them want to take in another child with Jake's condition," DeLost said.
DeLost played the episode featuring Jake's family. She explained that she cried so much while on camera because she had just had a baby and the whole experience was very emotional for her. When the episode showed her telling the family how much they deserved this home and how great they were, tears and sniffles filled the room. Over half of the audience hadn't seen the episode before. With Angie there in person, it was even more emotional.
Angie DeLost came to SAU on Friday, March 20 to tell her inspiring story of how she used her role as an occupational therapist to change a family's life. For three years, DeLost has worked with ABC to get her client, the Grys family, on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Steve and Jeannie Grys have hosted over 250 foster children. Their 8-year-old son Jake, who they have adopted, suffers from Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which is a brittle bones disease. DeLost has been working with him through her job at Easter Seals in Peoria, Ill. The house they lived in was hazardous to him, so Angie did everything she could to get them a better home. About 40 to 50 people filled the ballroom of the Rogalski Center to listen to DeLost's story. Most of them were Occupational Therapy majors or faculty members.
DeLost described to the OT students just how much they can get out of their field. She advised them of things she has come across in her career that have proven to work best. One thing she learned is to be persistent, as she was with ABC. Another was to think outside of the box by asking what the client really needs, not just asking what the OT is supposed to do.
"Realize your limits," DeLost said. "If you can't help your client, think of who can."
DeLost realized when she and the Grys family couldn't adapt the house to Jake's needs she needed to find someone who could. With persistence and dedication, she got ABC's Extreme Makeover team to build them the house they needed to keep Jake safe. The new house will also allow the Grys parents to continue their dream of fostering children.
"I think this house will make them want to take in another child with Jake's condition," DeLost said.
DeLost played the episode featuring Jake's family. She explained that she cried so much while on camera because she had just had a baby and the whole experience was very emotional for her. When the episode showed her telling the family how much they deserved this home and how great they were, tears and sniffles filled the room. Over half of the audience hadn't seen the episode before. With Angie there in person, it was even more emotional.
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