Glen Burnie Boy's Ramp Eases Difficult Life

LeRoy Windsor III and his sister have lived with their grandmother in Glen Burnie since he was about 6 months old.

For years, the 11-year-old with muscular dystrophy, who walks with difficulty and sometimes uses a wheelchair, had to climb the four steps into his home on his hands and knees —until a member of his church saw the scene and decided something needed to be done.

"I took him home after church and I saw this little 11-year-old boy climbing like a cat or a dog," said Dorena Burton, who attends Magothy Methodist Church with LeRoy and his family. "I was no more good."

Burton spoke with LeRoy's grandmother, Margaret Windsor—who had recently had a stroke—and put a plan in place to get a ramp built to ease the difficulties he experiences from the muscular dystrophy. Windsor said she knew the ramp would help, but just couldn't afford it on top of taking care of her son's children.

"I said, 'I'm getting that little boy a ramp if that's the last thing I do,'" Burton said.

The pain from LeRoy's muscular dystrophy makes it hard for him to walk and near impossible for him to climb steps.

Burton coordinated with the in Glen Burnie and through their staff and volunteers, a ramp was built June 27.

It took about a month between the time Burton saw LeRoy climb the steps to the time the ramp was built. Volunteers from Home Depot and three construction companies pitched in their time and built the ramp within seven hours, she said.

"It's a miracle, because it used to take him 15 to 20 minutes to get him in the house and out of the house," Windsor said of LeRoy. "I would cry every time I saw him crawl through the door. It would break my heart."

LeRoy said it felt great to have the ramp to help him get into his house.

"It was hard to climb up the steps," he said. "The ramp helps me get into my house easier."

Windsor said she was grateful to Burton and everyone who helped get the ramp for LeRoy, but stressed the need for more help supporting her two grandchildren on a fixed income.

"It's really hard," she said.

Home Depot also planned to install a fence and two doors due to the poor condition of the house.

Anyone who would like to help the Windsor family can call 410-437-2373.