Volunteers from Rebuilding Together Long Island are working to create a wheelchair-accessible basement to help two young brothers in Centereach have a little more fun at home.
The two young boys, Nicholas and Tyler Accardi, were both diagnosed with type 2 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMA is a genetic disease that affects voluntary muscle movement throughout their bodies.
Both of the boys are unable to move throughout the house without use of their wheelchairs.
"They're an inspiration because every day you see what they have to overcome and what they do just to exist," says Tom Accardi, Nicholas and Tyler's grandfather. "It kind of gives you that strength to do what you have to do. They've been a blessing."
The boys say they are most excited about an elevator that will take them down to the basement because they love to play hide and seek.
The family has started a GoFundMe page to help with the cost of the project.