Story Published:
Jan 17, 2008 at 7:09 PM PST
By
Valerie Hurst
A local church is stepping in to help Henry Knouse get his independence back.
They call themselves 'New Hope' church.
And that's exactly what they're bringing.
Henry won't be staying at that nursing home for long.
(news report) "He says he got to the I-82 exit ramp on Yak Ave and waited for the walk signal, but a truck didn't wait for him..."
Sandy Graves says hearing our report about Henry Knouse made her feel sick to her stomach.
She went straight to her pastor...
"She said, 'We need to help him, and i agreed,'" Pastor Bob Russell says.
Henry was in the crosswalk when a pickup truck crushed his one good leg.
Now, he's got months of therapy ahead, mostly spent at a nursing home.
But New Hope church wants to do one better, and get him that therapy in his own home.
Their plan?
To put him up in a bigger apartment, so he can have a caretaker.
They're having a brand new power chair made for him, too.
And they'll throw in a couple luxuries.
"I said 'Well we could get a couple of recliners for you...' And he thought about it a little while and said 'Well maybe' but then he got teary," she tells Action News.
"As a church our name is New Hope and a part of what we want to share is that there is hope," Russell says.
But Henry says he "never expected this kind of a thing."
Henry tells Action News the move from the hospital to nursing home was really tough.
He actually thought he might die there!
From a broken spirit.
"Love keeps people going it's motivation to get up the next day," he explains.
Now Henry says he's seeing miracles take shape that will give him his life back.
"I'm just an old man. The fact that these people care I just think that's so awesome..."
And Sandy says New Hope's congregation won't be the only people giving.
"I'm hittin' up the city council and I'm talking to Dave Edler. He's gonna pay some money here!"
She plans to throw in a copy of our first report with each letter, too.
"Just to refresh their mind about what happened. So then they can't say no."
The church is also paying for Henry's cell phone bill, which he's been using a lot lately from his bed.
We should note--New Hope's doing all this for Henry, and they're not even set up themselves.
They're worshiping at a funeral home chapel right now while construction at their new church is finished.
It's clear they're living their faith.
DONATIONS FOR HENRY CAN BE MADE at American West Bank in downtown Yakima:
127 W Yakima Ave, Yakima (509) 457-0706
The names on the account are Henry Knouse and Robert Russell.
You can also call New Hope Church with any questions: 509-452-2673.
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