Sep 4, 2008 9:46 pm US/Eastern
50 Years, 50 Families: Amiee Ickes
BLAIRSVILLE (KDKA) ―
A 12-year-old girl with an incurable heart ailment wanted a few pieces of furniture for her bedroom.
That's where Roomful Express came through, making her the next recipient of the 50 Years, 50 Families program.
But some of her family's friends gave the greatest gift of all.
With a $3,000 check in hand from Roomful Express Amiee Ickes, of Blairville, Indiana County, was about to see one of her dreams come true.
Ickes parents, Michael and Cheryl, say their daughter could use a number of things including a dresser, a desk, something to hold her collectibles and a bed that elevates due to her medical condition.
Ickes has a rare vascular condition called Parks Webber Syndrome, which causes blood to rush through her body too quickly for her heart to keep up. It causes her a lot of pain and severe fatigue.
There is no cure and no surgery available to correct it.
So some family friends decided to try and help her out. She was nominated for the free furniture from Roomful Express by William and Tracey Kurnocik.
"Amiee is in dire need of it with her medical needs, emotional needs, her spiritual needs," said Tracey. "She was a good candidate for it and she reminds us of our Jessie."
Jessie was the Kurnocik's daughter who died of cancer four years ago. She was only 14.
Amiee was a friend of their daughter, so the Kurnocik's decided to add to the gift from Roomful Express.
"She [Tracey] told me one day let's remodel the house and give it to Amiee and her family," said William.
Ickles now calls the Kurnocik's her aunt and uncle.
She also said she has one simple way to keep motivated.
"Just work hard, always have a smile on your face, no matter what you have, even if you have a disease on your face, if you have cancer, anything that is wrong with you," she says. "Always hold your head up high and have a big smile on your face."
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