A Polk County teen born with a rare disease got the surprise of a lifetime when a complete stranger donated a pool to her family.
Lacey Pate, 14, was born with a rare genetic syndrome called Kings Syndrome. She wasn’t expected to live one day. The bubbly teenager has undergone 45 surgeries and physical therapy since she was an infant.
The new pool with help with that process.
“This is going to be life changing for her," said Lacey’s mother Tamarah Pate. "When she’s in the water she’s free. She doesn’t rely on anyone’s help to help hold her up.
"To be able to stand she feels like she can do her thing.”
The family kept the pool as a surprise and Lacey’s reaction was priceless.
“I was like 'oh my!' Is this my house?” Lacey said.
“A lot of tears," said Tamarah. "Very over whelming. It’s wonderful for Lacey to be loved by so many people. Some who have never met us and don’t know her, but she is definitely special and very worth it.”
Thanks to people like Jake Bratten, who told a friend who helps with his organization, Jacked Up Jeep Club, about Lacey’s story, a man donated a pool to the family.
“It was awesome to see her response when she got to see it for the first time,” Bratten said.
The gift giving didn’t stop there -- B.J. Mannix and some of his friends in construction donated their time to install the new pool.
“Thank goodness every person that’s come involved in this project has donated their time and materials,” Mannix said.
Construction on the pool is set to be completed in the next two weeks, just in time for Lacey’s birthday.
The family still needs help getting some of the supplies. To donate go to any Citizens Bank and ask for the Lacey Pate pool project or donate online on their Go Fund Me account.