Lakeland PBS
❤ Donate
  • Home
  • Support
  • Watch Now
    • Livestream
    • Local Shows
    • Watch Online
    • Schedule
    • Our Channels
    • Web Cam
  • Lakeland News
    • News Feed
    • Featured Segments
    • Watch a News Story
    • Watch a Sports Story
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • State Legacy Funding
    • Meetings & Public Filings
    • Education
    • Employment
  • ❤ DONATE

ALS Advocate JP Whalen Receives Home Ramp Thanks To Baxter Home Depot

Rachel Johnson — Jun. 24 2019
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

December of 2015 was a time that JP Whalen and his family will never forget.

“I think it was December 21st or 22nd of 2015 is when I was formerly diagnosed with ALS,” JP Whalen said in an interview with Lakeland News in 2017.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

“I wish they would find a cure for ALS. I wish it would be something that we could figure out,” said JP’s daughter, Claire Whalen. “It’s been a long four years.”

“It’s a hard one. It’s a real hard one because it’s slow progressing sometimes, like for JP, but you watch a person that you love and care for deteriorate right before your eyes,” said JP’s wife Donna Whalen.

While it has been four years since JP was diagnosed, recently he has had to rely on a wheelchair, which makes it very hard to leave the house.

“The nerves die and then the muscles atrophy and gradually, the symptoms make it so you are homebound,” added JP Whalen.

“We knew we had to get a ramp, but we didn’t know what kind or how to fit it,” said Donna Whalen.

This is where Home Depot stepped in. The national chain has a Depot Community Team that awards grants to make projects like this possible. Claire Whalen’s mother works at the Baxter Home Depot, and when they heard about this grant, they know it would be the perfect fit.

“It’s one of our core values is to help the community, to give back to the community, so I think little projects like this is a great way for us to be able to do it,” said Baxter Home Depot Specialty Manager Dean Britton.

Last Wednesday, volunteers and members of the Home Depot team gathered at the Whalen’s home and the ramp went up.

“It was busy and it went really fast. All of a sudden, everybody was here and all of a sudden it went up and it was done,” said Josiah Kreutzfeldt, who helped build the ramp.

Though the ramp has only been in place for a week, it has already had an immense impact on JP and his family.

“Something like this really allows me to get back into the community and be a part of the community as much as I can, which I’m very grateful for,” JP Whalen said.

“I’m just so grateful for Home Depot. It was a blessing,” added Claire Whalen. “Best thing that has happened.”

Lakeland News is member supported content. Please consider supporting Lakeland News today.

Donate Today
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Rachel Johnson

By — Rachel Johnson

Lakeland News Lead Reporter

Related Posts

Baxter Moving to Next Phase of Road Improvement Project

Baxter City Council Holds Public Meeting on Infrastructure Project

Balloon Bunnies Offered in Baxter in Time for Easter

Golden Apple: Baxter Elementary Gets Wacky

  • Program Schedule

Get the free PBS Video App

roku
Apple TV
FireTV
AndroidTV
Google Play Store
Apple Store

Connect with Us

Watch Live News Casts

Contact Us

Directions
Submit an Event
Submit a Video or Photo
Problem with the Website
Need to contact us about something else? Please visit our contact us page for more options.

About Us

Lakeland PBS understands that the media people are exposed to make a significant impact on their lives. Our hope is that the six channels we broadcast along with our online presence provide people with media experiences that make a positive impact on their lives.

Lakeland PBS is where you want to be!

108 Grant Ave NE, Bemidji, MN 56601 | 800-292-0922
KAWE Public Profile | KAWB Public Profile | Cable Provider Channel List | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2021 Lakeland PBS. All Right Reserved.

How would you like to show your support?

Monthly Contribution

One-Time Contribution

Thank-You Gift

I would like to select a thank-you gift

No Gift

Put 100% of my gift towards programming

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.