HUMBOLDT— A Facebook post asking for help with a home remodeling project led to more than ailing Desert Storm veteran Richard “Richie” Kerns ever imagined.
Kerns and his wife, Laurie, have been remodeling their house at 703 Cherokee for the past 10 years, replacing windows, hanging Sheetrock, working at a normal, do-it-yourself pace.
“I really wanted to get the living room done before June,” Kerns said.
But because of his illness, he didn’t know if he could accomplish it.
In October 2010, Kerns was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Kerns walks with the help of a cane and had hoped to build a bedroom on the ground level because the stairs are becoming a challenge.
A Desert Storm veteran, Kerns, 42, has worked at B&W Trailer Hitches for three and a half years as a welder. Some of his fellow employees read the Facebook post and “B&W got wind of it,” he said. “I kind of got chewed out because I didn’t tell them I needed help.”
Early Saturday morning more than 20 B&W employees arrived at Kerns’ residence with tools and materials in hand, not only to hang Sheetrock in the living room, but also build a new front porch, install windows, pour a sidewalk and plant flowers.
“I guess they decided I needed some other things done and they took over,” Kerns said.
He went on to tell what was accomplished, pointing out new Sheetrock with fresh mud and gesturing toward the window where landscaping could be seen, followed by his amazement of how smoothly the work went, how efficiently his fellow employees worked together, and all the materials that were provided by area merchants.
“There were so many places, Payless Concrete, Orschelns, Walmart, TLC Greenhouse and Cleaver’s, that donated stuff or sold it at cost,” Kerns said shaking his head in disbelief. “They even took donations at work for materials and raised $325. There were 40 people all together involved donating or working. After they left, Laurie and I looked around at all they had done and I broke down. I just can’t believe it.
“B&W picked up the rest of the tab. I’m just in shock. I’ve said thank you many, many times but thank you doesn’t seem like enough. Every time I try to thank Joe (Works) he just waves me off. That’s just the way they are.”
Kerns grew up and lived in Chanute before moving to Humboldt 14 years ago. He was in the Navy from 1987 until 1991, taking part in Desert Storm in 1991. He and Laurie have four children, Chelsy Wright, 21, Samantha Kerns, 21, Cody Wright, 20, and Kaitelyn Kerns, 15, a student at Humboldt High School.
Last summer Kerns noticed he was getting cramps in his legs and they seemed to be getting weak. In July while riding his motorcycle, he was having difficulty shifting and thought something could be wrong with the motorcycle. “I found out my foot wasn’t working,” he said.
He was sent to specialists and to KU Medical Center where an EMG, nerve conduction test, was performed, which resulted in the ALS diagnosis.
“I was shocked,” Kerns said. “My wife and family have taken it pretty hard, but there’s nothing I can do about it. It has slowed me down, but I’m going to keep going every day the best I can.”
He will continue working at B&W until June 10, then he will receive veteran’s disability benefits. ALS affects the nervous system and as the muscles grow weaker, tasks such as opening and closing a door, turning a light switch on or off and retrieving something from the refrigerator become more difficult.
But there are service dogs that are trained to assist ALS victims. Kerns learned he qualifies for such a dog and will go in June to get acquainted and be trained in how to handle the pet.
“When I found out I wouldn’t be working much longer, I told my wife I wouldn’t mind having another dog around to keep me company while everyone is gone to school and work,” Kerns said.
Kerns accepts the diagnosis and knows that today there is no known cure for ALS. He takes medication to slow the disease’s progression, as well as “massive” amounts of vitamins. He’s been told what the average life expectancy after diagnosis could be, but he said he doesn’t question why he developed the disease.
He thinks God must have known he was going to get sick and that’s why he ended up at B&W.
“I can’t think of another place that would have done half as much for me as they have in the last six months,” he said. “I sure appreciate everything and all the guys.”
Getting by with help from his friends
