WATCH: Last week Global News brought you the story of Matt Ward and his family who were displaced by a fire in their home. Now they have received some remarkable help. Laura Brown reports.
RIVERVIEW, N.B. – A Riverview couple is handing over their home so that Matt Ward and his family have a place to stay while their home is renovated after a devastating fire.
It was last Thursday evening when fire struck the family’s home. Elan Saniga stayed by her son, Matt’s side, as smoke crept up the stairs of their home and into the room where Matt lives, along with all he cherishes.
Her 22-year-old son lives with a severe form of muscular dystrophy. Global News introduced the young man, who is potentially the Toronto Maple Leaf’s biggest fan, last fall.
He remained in the ICU at the Moncton Hospital after the fire, but was able to go home Tuesday afternoon.
READ MORE: Leafs fan with muscular dystrophy dragged from home during fire
But there was concern about where “home” would be for the family. It will take up to three months for their home, which suffered extensive damage in the fire, to be renovated.
A plea went out on Facebook, looking for a place where the family can live in the meantime. That plea was answered by Riverview couple Paul and Lorna Hynes.
“We come to a decision that we have a trailer down here in Shediac that we could go down to live in and we decided to give them our home for the summer,” Paul Hynes said.
Within days, the Hynes stepped up to help, they packed all of their belongings and began tucking them into every nook of their 32-foot trailer.
It may be downsizing, but the couple are doing it for a really good reason.
“My wife’s parents were killed in a major car accident,” Hynes said. “They were leaving Riverview on way back home to Newfoundland and were killed.”
“At that time, of course, everyone in Riverview and back home reached out and gave us a hand unbelievably. We just thought, hey, this is our way to pay it back.”
READ MORE: Inspiring 22-year-old believes in himself, and the Maple Leafs
Saniga was overwhelmed that someone would give up their home for someone else they’ve barely met.
“I was telling her about the inconvenience and she was reassuring me not to worry about anything just to focus on Matt and ourselves,” Saniga said. “I’m just so touched.”
“He’s just happy to be here and have a place to live.”
The insurance company is paying for the family to live in the home over the next couple months.
Some of Matt’s Toronto Maple Leafs collection suffered damage in the fire, but we are pretty sure the team knows where his new address is.
READ MORE: Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf calls fan in Riverview with muscular dystrophy
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