OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Dave Donovan helped countless people in his 32 years as a firefighter, and now it’s his turn to receive help.

Dave and his wife, Gale, originally from Massachusetts, decided to move to Maine from North Carolina in 2016. With their two sons grown and settled into college, it seemed like the right time to move to Old Orchard Beach where they could enjoy their retirement in a home a short walk from the beach.

The couple’s retirement plans changed, when soon after they moved in Dave’s health suddenly began to decline and it was discovered that he had Parkinson’s disease and a heart condition.

Seemingly without warning, the man who had once rescued people from burning buildings and brought back people from the edge of death now couldn’t walk, couldn’t write his name, and had difficulty talking.

“It’s so hard to see your husband decline,” said Gale. She was determined to have her husband, the man who she says has never yelled once in their 30 years of marriage and has always taken time to help others, live at home.

“Being at home is the absolutely best thing,” said Gale.

The beautiful seaside house that had seemed so perfect for their retirement now posed some challenges.

The bedrooms and shower were on the second floor, and the stairwell on the more than 100 year old home was too narrow for a chair lift. If Dave wanted to continue to live at home, some changes would need to be made.

The Donovans couldn’t get a zoning variance to add a first floor bedroom to the house, and the next logical solution was to winterize the sun porch to make a bedroom for Dave and install a shower in the first floor bathroom.

It all seemed overwhelming, and Gale was chatting with her hairdresser when getting her hair done at Tanglez Hair Salon. Her hairdresser suggested she contact Assistant Town Manager Louise Reid for help with local resources.

She did, and Reid gave Gale a few contacts, including the Rotary Club of Saco Bay Sunset.

More phone calls were made, and ultimately, a volunteer effort of Rotarians, firefighters, Home Depot employees and community members came together for a project that when completed, will include a first floor shower and the conversion of the sun porch into a bedroom. The new bedroom will be located adjacent to the living room, where Dave currently sleeps.

When asked how he felt about being able to stay at home and have his own bedroom on the first floor, Dave said he felt “ecstatic.”

“It’s hard when you’re a giver to take, but I think he deserves everything,” said Gale.

Also pleased with the news were Gale and Dave’s sons, Kyle and Matt who have relocated to Maine from North Carolina and transferred to University of Southern Maine.

The project received a $2,500 grant from Home Depot, $2,000 grant from the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs and $1,000 each from Haverhill, Massachusetts and Biddeford fire departments as well as contributions from local contractors, said Saco Bay Sunset Rotarian Leo Menard.

“There’s been good community support,” said Menard.

On Sunday, local Rotarians, members of the Biddeford Fire Department and Home Depot staff were busy renovating the sun porch, and doing some unexpected extra work, like painting the fence and raking up leaves.

More than 20 people showed Sunday to help and “made a big difference,” said Menard.

“It’s overwhelming. I’m humbled by all of it,” said Gale.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at 780-9015 or by email at egotthelf@journaltribune.com.