Rick Graefe photo/ Volunteers carry a framing for a wooden shed to the back yard of Mike and Kate Treese's Ballwin home. Mike has ALS. Volunteers are planning to make major changes to the home to accommodate his future needs.


From hardship comes a blessing
Friends remodel home to help beloved ALS victim

By Mary Shapiro
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 3:41 PM CST



Nothing is impossible for the friends of Mike Treese.

That's why Ann Banker of Chesterfield and contractors Larry McRoy and Chris Ferrari of Ballwin were among about 20 volunteers, last Saturday morning, Jan. 24, who took tools in hand to begin an "extreme makeover" of the Treese home in Ballwin Meadows subdivision.

The first of the tasks they undertook was a storage shed in the back yard. The entire project should be completed in about a month.

Mike was diagnosed in July of last year with ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. It's a progressive, neurodegenerative disease for which there is no known cure.

"Mike noticed earlier last year that he had a stiff hand and cramps, muscle loss, which we now know were early symptoms, and that's why he ended up going to the doctor," said Kate, Mike's wife of 22 years and a secretary at Ursuline Academy.

Banker, McRoy and Ferrari are spearheading a massive home makeover to help adapt the home to meet Mike's future needs, something that also will aid Kate and their three children - Michelle, 18, a freshman at Truman State University; Chris, 15, a freshman at DeSmet Jesuit High School; and Conor, 10, a fourth-grader at Holy Infant Catholic School.

Banker, like the Treese family, is a member of Holy Infant Catholic Parish. She said she met the family a few years ago when they helped her with a church committee.

"Everyone will tell you the Treeses were always there to help others," she said. "In September, after we learned about Mike's diagnosis, I and (friend) Jana Robison met Kate for lunch and told her to bring a wish list. When Kate didn't do that, we made our own."

At the top of the list to accommodate Mike's future needs were plans to widen doorways of the home, create a ramp, create a handicapped-accessible bathroom on the first floor, and a "bump-out" addition that will convert the first-floor family room into Mike and Kate's bedroom, which now is in the basement.

Banker enlisted the help and expertise of McRoy and Ferrari.

In November, Banker and McRoy wrote to building materials suppliers in the St. Louis area, asking for donations of materials and supplies.

In the letter, the pair call Treese "the man you are thrilled to have as a neighbor, or to serve shoulder-to-shoulder with on a committee, or to call coach of your child's team."

"Now it is our turn to help him," they wrote, asking for support of Mike, Kate and their children.

Kate admits it was hard to ask for help.

The numbers of people coming out, even now in the early stages, "is an avalanche," she said.

"It's hard for helpers to become the helped," Banker said.

When McRoy heard about the Treese situation, he "wanted to help any way I could."

"So much has already been donated," he said. "Kelly Building Products donated a lot of the lumber. Henry Plumbing provided all the ADA plumbing fixtures. Thome Plumbing came up with all the plumbing labor. Roberts Electric is doing all the electric work for free. A furnace and air conditioner have been donated."

Crown C Supply, Roofer's Mart, Design Aire and J & J Windows are other companies that donated, said Banker, who said all windows and flooring have been donated.

"Mike has given of himself unselfishly to others in the past, and now others want to pay it forward," she said. "It's been an incredible blessing for me to be part of this."

Plans are for a massive "work weekend" Feb. 14 and 15, when demolition and complete framing of the basement, new bedroom and new bathroom must occur. McRoy said he hopes for 80 volunteers, skilled and unskilled, each day. Carpenters will be especially helpful.

Additionally volunteers are needed for insulation and drywall Feb. 18 and 19, and on Feb. 21 and 22, the following weekend, to sand drywall, paint and install trim.

During the weeks of work, the Treese family will be staying with family and friends, and they'll return for the "unveiling" Feb. 28 when Holy Infant priests and nuns will be on hand, with all volunteers, for a special blessing.

Sister Rosario Delaney, principal of Holy Infant Catholic School, "pushed for a deck to be part of the plans because she knew Mike likes to watch the weather," Banker said.

Kate said it's hard for her to find the words to thank everyone.

"The generosity and love surrounding us are incredible," she said. "I feel blessed."

Banker said she feels "the hand of God directed this, because we'll ask for one thing and get 10 times what we expected."

A number of fundraisers for the family have taken place, including a Jan. 10 sell-out trivia night at Holy Infant, where some players had to be turned away, Banker said.

Ferrari recently told the Ballwin Board of Aldermen about the effort, and the board agreed to waive a yard variance submittal fee, as well as all permit and petitioning fees, totalling about $660.

"The Treese family is incredible," Ferrari said. "They've given so much time to their community, and we want to give back a little."

A goal of Kate's in the project is to draw attention and support to the local chapter of the ALS Association and the MDA/ALS Center in St. Louis.

"Others with ALS don't always have the support we have," she said.

Mike is still working hard as business manager for Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Parish in Creve Coeur.

"I didn't know there were so many who cared about me and my family," he admitted. "It's been remarkable and a real blessing."

He praised the ALS Association and the Washington University School for Advanced Medicine, which has provided him with occupational and physical therapists, now helping with the home adaptation.

Mike credited his children's schools and his and Kate's workplaces with offering support - as well as Buchhholz Mortuaries, where he worked for 23 years as a controller.

"I was awestruck when I first learned of the home project, that anyone would want do anything like that for me," Mike said. "When I first learned of my disease, I asked God, 'Why me?' But with all the goodness that came out of this, I again asked God, 'Why me?' ALS is a bad diagnosis, but a lot of good has come out of it - the goodness of others."

Account set for donations

A bank account is being set up for donations to assist the Mike Treese family with home adaptations in the short term and long-term health-related needs in the future.

For that account, for donations of materials and supplies or to volunteer on workdays including Feb. 14 and 15, contact Ann Banker at annie63b@yahoo.com or (636) 399-6627.

For more information about ALS, contact the ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter at the website http://webstl.alsa.org or call (314) 432-7257.

For more information about the MDA/ALS Center in St. Louis, contact MDA/ALS Center at Washington Unviersity School of Medicine at (314) 362-6981 or e-mail pestronk@neuro.wustl.edu.

Men put faith in action

The first wave of volunteers for the Treese family home adaptation project already are coming from Holy Infant Catholic Parish, including some members of Mike's Saturday morning men's faith-based group, "That Man is You."

Why?

"I just wanted to help out to show our support," said George Dowdy of Wildwood.

Mike May of Ballwin said, "If this happened to me, I'd love for people to help my family like this. We put ourselves in his place and asked how we can help."

"Mike and Kate have done so much for others that when they asked for help, I didn't think twice," said Mike Forte of Clarkson Valley.

Tim Steenberge of Ballwin said he "just wanted to do anything to make their lives easier."

"I'm just a worker bee, just some helping hands," said Guy Parasch of Ballwin.

Tom Noonan of Wildwood said, "It's impressive seeing so many volunteers pulling together."

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Rick Graefe photo/ Volunteers Guy Parasch, center, of Ballwin, Chris Ferrari, kneeling at right, of Ballwin and George Dowdy, standing, of Wildwood prepare framing for the shed built in the back yard of Mike and Kate Treese in Ballwin.


Rick Graefe photo/ Larry McRoy, left, of Ballwin nails the framing of a shed as other volunteers hold it in place Jan. 24 at the home of Mike and Kate Treese in Ballwin.