Since her story became public, Lindsay Aronson Ess has benefited from the kindness of strangers.

Now, several of those strangers who were touched by her story have banded together to build a home addition they hope will include a barrier-free bedroom and a handicap-accessible bathroom that can accommodate a wheelchair.

"It sounds really cool," said Ess, 25, whose arms and legs were amputated last year as a result of a massive infection. "I'm really excited about it."

The group is raising money for the addition that will be built onto the Henrico County home of Ess' mother, Judith Aronson.

The Glen Allen Ruritan Club, co-sponsors of next Saturday's annual Glen Allen Day at Meadow Farm Museum/Crump Park, has joined the fundraising effort. The club will donate proceeds from the event's customand classic-car show to the project. Donation boxes also will be placed around the park, and information on the project will be available at a pair of booths.

Proceeds from a mile fun run for elementary school-age children, sponsored by the Glen Allen School PTA, also will go to the Ess fund. The race starts at 9 a.m. at Glen Allen Baptist Church, 3028 Mountain Road.

In addition, Ess will ride in a convertible in the parade that kicks off Glen Allen Day at 9:30 a.m.

"I feel like Miss America," she said with a laugh.

Tom Martin, a contractor and spokesman for the building project, donated his time earlier this year to make modifications to the home before Ess left the hospital. He built ramps, rehung the bathroom door so it would swing out and performed other general repairs. He joined forces with several others who read about Ess in a Richmond Times-Dispatch story in May.

"It was obvious what she really needs is an accessible bathroom as there is only one bathroom in their home and it is very small and in need of repair," Martin said. "As other people have come forward to help, I have shared with them my goal of building this bath for Lindsay."

The infection developed after intestinal surgery and very nearly killed her. She still faces additional surgery, therapy and treatment. Over the summer, she underwent hyperbaric oxygen treatments to help speed the healing of her right leg.

A 2007 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in fashion merchandising, she spent her summer as a teacher's assistant at VCU. She's working on several fashion shows and plans to teach two fashion classes at VCU in the spring.

She has also been responding to the scores of people who have contacted her to offer good wishes or assistance. An example of the financial help she has received was an art benefit held on her behalf by Heloise B. Levit's art gallery, which raised $1,000.

Ess would like to return to school to earn a master's degree and ultimately would like to work in counseling or motivational speaking. She wants to run again. She wants to start a blog. She's working on her e-mailing skills.

"I can't type very fast, so my e-mails aren't very long, but I usually get to the point," she said with a laugh.
Contact Bill Lohmann at (804) 649-6639 or wlohmann@timesdispatch.com.