In a cramped one-bedroom apartment where Adria LeBlanc and her daughter Alyssa share a space without even a couch to cozy into, mornings begin at the crack of dawn—an intricate routine of stretching exercises and moving medical equipment. As a dedicated mother navigating the challenges of Alyssa’s complex medical needs, Adria is no stranger to struggle. But with the promise of a new home through Habitat for Humanity, she’s not just building walls, she’s laying the groundwork for a brighter future.
"It’s kind of like Tetris every time we need to get a piece of medical equipment out for her; we have to move things around the [small] apartment."
Adria works part-time in the behavioral health field and full-time providing medical care for Alyssa. To sum up their current living situation, in one word Adria would say it is “difficult.” Her daughter has Arnold Chiari, two brain malformations, spina bifida, and hydrocephalus. She’s had close to 20 surgeries all before the age of 10.
Chiari malformations are structural defects in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. Alyssa has limited movement and uses a walker to walk. Every morning, starting at 5:00 a.m., there are other providers assisting her with a stretching routine and taking her to the bus for school. Providers come back in the afternoon for her afternoon exercise routine.
Alyssa has adaptive exercise equipment that she needs as part of her therapies, and they are constantly moving furniture and equipment around as space is limited. “It’s kind of like Tetris every time we need to get a piece of medical equipment out for her; we have to move things around the apartment,” says Adria.
Adria is a recovering addict herself and is also working on herself, unlearning and healing from that experience and learning about boundaries. She is a licensed substance abuse counselor and helps others by walking her walk and talking her talk. Before moving to Tucson, she lived in a rural part of Nevada where it was a challenge to get medical care for Alyssa in a timely manner. There were no orthopedic specialists nearby, and some of her appointments were often a seven-and-a-half-hour drive away.
When she heard from a friend about Habitat for Humanity, she applied and followed the steps that led her to current homeownership. Home for Adria means she won’t have to worry about the rising cost of rent, she’ll have more space for Alyssa’s medical equipment and the comfort and peace from knowing rising rent costs won’t be an issue and will be, “one burden off my shoulders for many years to come.”
Adria is looking forward to having all of her daughters know that their mom is taken care of, is stable, and has a home. Home for the LeBlanc family means “somewhere kind of like an anchor where your family can always go and is a safe place.”
After 2 years of having her two older daughters pay for her rent, Adria is at peace knowing that, “they don’t have to help me; that’s not their responsibility to help me…I can give them that freedom, that they don’t have to help me anymore.”
Adria is starting to put in her sweat equity hours and really enjoys the camaraderie and the construction part. While her days can be overwhelming at times, Adria appreciates the patience of the Habitat team and the way it is a fun environment and overall good experience at the build sites. “We’re able to accomplish a task, and it’s fun, and I want to continue volunteering even when I’m done,” she says.
With each step toward her new affordable home, Adria is not just building a house, she’s laying the foundation for a brighter future for herself and her family.