Makeover project freshens single mom”s life

Tracy Stiles believes in prayers and karma.

Two years ago, multiple sclerosis forced the single mother of three to quit her job as a checker for Rosauers Supermarkets Inc., where she’d worked for 26 years.

On Wednesday evening, the Spokane Valley resident came home to a dream yard that includes beautiful landscaping, a fully repainted home exterior, a new roof and extras like a jetted spa and a Kenmore stainless steel barbecue.

The makeover was a collaborative project between KXLY-4 and an estimated 30 businesses, which sponsored an “ugly yard” makeover contest.

After declining health, financial struggles and failed attempts to reinvigorate a stubborn, rocky back yard, Stiles entered the contest and found a gorgeous, lighted fountain at the end of a dark tunnel.

“It was like I was at Manito (Park) or something. It was hard to come inside last night,” Stiles said Thursday while sitting in her new back yard.

Stiles, who no longer can do yard work, was simply hoping for a new lawn and low-maintenance plants.

Instead, the wide-sweeping makeover left no exterior realm untouched, providing an estimated $70,000 in goods and services.

KXLY producer Rob Davis said a lot of yards are ugly. However, it became apparent that Stiles was a deserving contestant after talking to her former boss at the Rosauers at University City.

“He said you couldn’t pick a better person for this, and that’s what we’ve heard from every single person we’ve heard from,” Davis said.

A committee of sponsors picked Stiles for the makeover, which was designed to give her a respite from a stressful journey and make life easier.

After sending Stiles and her children to a bed and breakfast, which included a party at Glover Mansion, workers reinvented her home exterior.

Work began at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, and by Wednesday afternoon (with a few hours to go until the family returned), the back yard was a flurry of Bobcat backhoes and workmen with shovels.

“The donations have been phenomenal,” said Clyde Haase of Haase Landscape Inc., which planned and organized the makeover.

So many businesses offered to help that Haase was forced to turn some away.

“I have never heard or seen this happen at a local level,” Haase said.

The makeover was so extensive that Haase said no part of the exterior was left untouched.

Companies went above and beyond, even including a basketball court for her kids and autographing a basketball for her 14-year-old son Cameron.

“He said, ‘I don’t want to use that one. I don’t want to ruin the names,’ ” Stiles said.

Crumbling front steps were replaced with new, wider steps. Even the family’s golden retriever, Annie, got a new dog kennel and an invisible fence.

Inside the home, Stiles’ kitchen stove, down to its last working element, was replaced with a new appliance.

Stiles said she’s made it through the tough times by trying to keep her sense of humor and with the help of her kids, Cameron, Rian, 17, and Chris, 20.

Still, at 42, Stiles said some days are so rough that she might as well be 100.

Yet sitting in the sunshine, with the fountain’s gentle trickle and lush grass all around, the Valley mom feels rejuvenated.

“I just never thought this was possible. How do you thank someone for this?” she said.

“When you think you’ve hit the bottom, something wonderful happens.”