SamboraBlog

WOODBRIDGE — : Ever since young Kelly Mahon suffered a series of debilitating strokes in 2007, the Mahon's friends, family, neighbors - and even strangers throughout the township - have stood by the family during Kelly's long, slow steps to recovery.

Saturday, about 30 township volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help the Mahons yet again. This time they helped build an addition to their ranch home on South Maple Street. The addition will house a bedroom for Kelly, while another bedroom in the house will be renovated into a handicap-accessible bathroom. Because she is unable to use her legs, Kelly has to be lifted, which is a difficult task in the family's small home, her father Matt Mahon said.

The volunteers were organized by the Woodbridge Housing Authority's Tooling Around the Township, an eight-year-old volunteer program that helps seniors and needy families with household repairs.

"This is the first time we've ventured into a reconstruction project," said housing director Donna Brightman, who added that the program in the past has helped other families with severely handicapped children.

Mahon expects the renovation at his home to cost about $100,000. Saturday's volunteers helped put of the frame and roof on the extension using donated materials, he said. Work will also include a new deck with ramp access.

Mahon has been working on the renovations in between going to work, taking care of his 5-year-old son and visiting Kelly everyday at the nursing home, JFK Hartwyk at Oak Tree in Edison.

With the renovations, Kelly will be able to spend more time at home.

"I usually bring her home on Saturdays or Sundays," Mahon said. "Since last Christmas we're only talking about eight or 10 times, if that."

During the week of Thanksgiving in 2007, when Kelly was an honors student at Woodbridge High School, she underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor that had threatened to take her eye sight. Following the surgery, Kelly suffered several strokes that left her unresponsive for months.

A year ago, she began breathing without a respirator and started speaking again. Kelly, however, was left with brain damage to both sides of her brain, which has left her unable to walk or to retain much short-term memory, Mahon said.

"She's improving all the time but it's hard to say how far she is going to improve," he said.

"Somebody can come to visit her and an hour or so later she may not remember it," he said. "But if I bring up the home renovations she smiles and she's happy about it."

Mahon said he's touched by all the help people have offered the family, including a renovated handicapped-accessible van bequeathed to them in January and a fundraiser last summer by Woodbridge native Richie Sambora, the lead guitarist of Bon Jovi.

"It's a very nice feeling knowing so many want to help and want to get involved and offer their time to help you do something," Mahon said.