Elizabeth Savage had a dream to one day own a real home. A safe, happy place where the 38-year-old single mother could raise her daughter Whitney, 9.
‘That was my goal,? she said. ‘Mostly for my daughter. I can live anywhere.?
But when Elizabeth was diagnosed with third-stage ovarian cancer in May 2005, she felt her dream was slipping away.
‘I didn’t see that as in our future anymore,? she said. ‘I didn’t think anybody would finance me ? not knowing what the future would be.?
The mobile home Elizabeth had once considered ‘temporary? housing while she saved her money was unfortunately looking more and more permanent.
But thanks to her mother and father, Pam and Greg Savage, along with the Oxford-based Father & Son Tree Service, Elizabeth and Whitney are now living in a two-bedroom ranch on Rolfe Drive between Pontiac Street and Oneta Drive.
‘That’s the American dream and we wanted to make sure she had it,? Greg said.
Elizabeth, who works in the service department at the Skalnek Ford dealership in Orion, said she feels like one of those families featured on the ABC television show ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.?
‘To me, it was a lot like that,? she said. ‘But it wasn’t the big ABC production. It was family and hometown people helping out.?
‘For me and my daughter, it’s a blessing,? Elizabeth said.
Pam and Greg, who live on Nippigon Drive in Oxford, generously and selflessly dipped into their retirement savings to buy her the house.
‘If this was one of the things that could make her happy, why not do it?? Pam said. ‘I’d do it again.?
‘I’m glad we could do it,? Greg said. ‘I’m glad we saved. So many people aren’t able to help their kids that much.?
‘I was shocked,? Elizabeth said. ‘But that’s the way they are.?
Spending their retirement taking trips to Florida and Las Vegas would be fun, Pam admitted, but it was more important to help her daughter and granddaughter make ‘some great memories in their own house.?
Pam is particularly pleased her daughter is sleeping better these days.
‘She always sleeps with one eye open in the mobile home park,? Pam said. ‘She always worries something’s going to happen, someone’s going to break in.? ‘I’ve slept so good the past few nights we’ve been here,? said Elizabeth with a big smile.
‘It feels so good to know her and Whitney are safe and in a good place,? Pam said.
Pam, herself a breast cancer survivor, believes the new house will be a great help in her daughter’s on-going battle with ovarian cancer. ‘She’s going to get better in this happy house. I know it,? she said.
Elizabeth thinks so too.
‘My plan is to go into remission and we’ll re-mortgage,? she said. ‘They’ll get their retirement back.?
Elizabeth noted her mother has been a tremendous help by cleaning, packing, painting, you name it.
‘She’s been my savior,? she said. ‘Everyday she’s done something to get me moved in here.?
‘I’ve worked harder on her house than my house,? Pam quipped.
As for Elizabeth’s daughter Whitney, a third-grader at Blanche Sims Elementary in Lake Orion, she now has her cousins on Oneta Drive to play with, a new friend next door and an entire basement that’s become her very own playroom. She will start fourth grade at Oxford Elementary in the fall.
In addition to her parents, Elizabeth is also grateful to Father & Son Tree Service, owned by Joe Jenkins.
Jenkins had a crew of his workers come out to the new house a few weeks ago to trim, cut and remove all the overgrown bushes, shrubs and trees which completely surrounded and engulfed the house.
The house had sat vacant for about three years and when it was first suggested as a possibility to Elizabeth, she said, ‘I had no idea there was a house here.?
‘You couldn’t see the house,? she said. ‘The whole front was covered.?
‘You couldn’t even see the windows,? Pam said. ‘You couldn’t get out of the front door and walk off the porch. You couldn’t get through.?
‘The only thing you could see was (Century 21’s) big yellow sign when you drove by,? according to Pam.
Hearing about all this, Jenkins, who knows Elizabeth through Skalnek Ford, ‘didn’t hesitate? to lend a helping hand. He had his men come out and do an estimated $2,000 worth of work for free.
‘It was a lifesaver,? Elizabeth said. ‘We could never have done it all. It would have taken us months to accomplish what he did in a day.?
‘I called to thank him and you know what he said, ‘I’m not done. I’m going to put dirt and flowers in,? she said. ‘That’s just Joe ? he goes over and above. That’s the kind of guy he is?
‘He’s probably one of the biggest hearted guys I know.?