After an ATV accident left Amy Van Dyken-Rouen paralyzed below the waist last summer, George Oliphant got to work.
The host of the home show “George to the Rescue,” and his team remodeled her Arizona home while she was in the hospital recovering, and now Van Dyken-Rouen's full remodel and reaction will be featured this Saturday, Oct. 18, on the NBC show (check your local listings).
Working with Van Dyken-Rouen's husband, Tom Rouen, Oliphant kept the entire remodel a secret from the swimmer. When she arrived home from treatment in Colorado, Van Dyken-Rouen found a new bathtub with an 22-inch granite border that allows her to easily transfer to the bath out of her wheelchair, plus a lowered vanity and computer-operated shower so she can set the water temperature before rolling under the water.
Oliphant also worked to completely reorganize storage in the Arizona home. With help from the organization company Tailored Living, Oliphant swapped out out-of-reach closet rods and replaced them with tiered rods that she can easily pull down with a handle.
The remodel also meant removing shelving from under the swimmer's kitchen sink and stove so she can more easily reach the sink and cook for herself, as well as a larger — and lower — kitchen island to maximize counter space.
He also installed ramps and a lift in the couple's pool, making Van Dyken-Rouen completely independent in terms of getting in and out of the water.
Helping with the project was a group of Van Dyken-Rouen’s best girlfriends, neighbors, family members and other women who refer to themselves as “Amy’s Army.”
Watch “George to the Rescue” on NBC on October 18 to watch the remodel from start to finish and to see Amy Van Dyken-Rouen’s reaction to her home.