Help the hero
Company build new home for firefighter who suffered life-changing injuries tackling blaze
Firefighter Andy Adams’s life was turned upside down when an accident at work left him paralysed and fighting to survive.
The 52-year-old was seriously injured while attending a fire at a social club.
Andy and his family had to rebuild their lives after the accident left him in a wheelchair.
They struggled to find a home that would suit his needs and were faced with Andy living separately from wife Claire, 52, and their children, Hannah, 25, and Darren, 17.
That’s when Merchant Homes stepped in to build them a new home adapted to his needs.
Andy suffered a severed spinal cord, fractured neck and a broken sternum, among other injuries, when a wall collapsed on him while bravely tackling the blaze in Greenock in August 2016.
Following numerous operations and almost a year in hospital, it soon became clear Andy would never return to the family home, as it was no longer suitable.
“I spent two weeks in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in intensive care fighting for my life,” said Andy.
“When I woke up from a medically induced coma and learned about my life-changing injuries, I knew things would never be the same.
“As part of my recovery, I would have to relearn the very basics to survive, including drinking, eating and swallowing, as well as learning how to use a wheelchair to enable me to live as normal a life as possible.
“At that point, it didn’t even cross my mind where I would live and the fact I would never return to my own home.”
Originally from Greenock, Andy was living in a house with stairs inside, as well outside stairs to the front door, so he had to move in to sheltered accommodation when he left hospital.
“While I was in hospital, an old friend of mine, John Jack, who is one of the directors at Merchant Homes, came to visit,” Andy explained. “He had learned of my accident and knew my
family and I were struggling to find a new family home tailored to my needs. John offered to speak to Merchant Homes’ management team about my situation – but I never imagined they would build me a new home.”
Once discharged from hospital, Andy spent three weeks in a care home due to the lack of adapted homes for people with disabilities.
He later moved to a small flat where he could live with his family in the short-term.
Meanwhile, Merchant Homes donated a plot of land from their Kirn Gardens development in Gourock and worked with occupational therapists, support agencies and Andy to design the family’s new home to meet his s needs. Linda
McLuskie, sales and marketing director at Merchant Homes said: “This was the first time we had designed a specially adapted home, so the team had to get it right first time.
“Andy worked closely with the various departments in the building process, allowing him to create a home that he loved.
“Everything from the height of the planters in the garden to the handles on the kitchen units had to be considered to allow him to live as normal a life as possible.
“Handing the new home over to Andy was a really special moment. We were absolutely delighted with the outcome and hope he continues to recover in his new home.”
The four-bedroom bungalow at Kirn Gardens was custom-built with a wet room, an adapted kitchen with low height units, extended doorways, fully accessible front and back doors, and a garden with a raised flowerbed area.
“I never imagined I would be living in such a stunning family home when I awoke from my accident,” said Andy.
“I can’t explain how thankful I am to the Merchant Homes’ team. Our new home has really changed my life and the life of my family.”
I can’t explain how thankful I am to Merchant Homes’ team Andy Adams