Michael Wright's leg was amputated after he developed cancer, so his neighbors, Micki and Billy Shreve, let him move into their ranch home.
Last March, Michael Wright, a 40-year-old software consultant from Kansas City, broke his right leg. He knew something was terribly wrong: “I was just crossing the street,” he told the Kansas City Star.
After medical testing, doctors discovered that the broken bone was caused by a type of cancer, osteosarcoma. His leg was filled with tumors, and would need to be amputated.
The news was devastating. In addition to fighting a deadly disease, Wright wasn’t sure how he would cope with getting around the house. He and his family lived in a multi-story unit, and he needed to move between levels multiple times every day. Immediately, he and his family knew that they would need to move.
They decided to build a custom home that was specially equipped for Wright. But the house would take months to build, and the family wasn’t sure what to do until then.
Luckily, Wright’s neighbors, Micki and Billy Shreve, came up with a plan. The Shreves lived in a ranch-style home, just several doors down from the Wrights. As soon as they heard about Wright’s amputation, they volunteered to trade homes with the family until the new construction was completed. Micki, a real estate agent, even listed the multi-level home for the Wrights, and sold the house within a month.
On Saturday, the Wrights’ new home was finally ready. Once again, the family’s friends came through for them: More than 40 friends and neighbors helped them move their possessions into the new house, and then assisted the Shreves in moving back into their own home.
“This has brought the absolute best out of people,” said Wright.