Decked Out WNY helps give a veteran his independence back
NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Decked Out WNY is helping honor our nation's heroes by donating a deck to a veteran every year.
'It should be done more, and I'm doing my small part, but it would be nice if more people did it,' said Pat Williams, owner of Decked Out WNY.
Williams said his family has a long history of military service and he's been motivated to give back.
Along with sponsors LENCO Supplies and Fiberon Decking — who help cover the costs of the materials — every year Decked Out WNY receives hundreds of nominations in October and announces the winner on Veterans Day. Then, in the spring or summer, they build the deck.
'I wish people would do this every day, and it's not done enough, they have done so much for us,' said Kevin Conklin of LENCO.
This year, out of hundreds of entries, the hero who was randomly selected is David Brenon of North Tonawanda. Brenon's family believes this comes at a perfect time.
'He'll be able to get in and out on his own. This is his freedom. He hasn't had much of that,' said Lori Brenon, David's wife. 'We were the ones that always gave, and now we're getting that back. It's just incredible.'
Lori Brenon said that David was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer last year, and he has a rare syndrome called paraneoplastic syndrome. It's a syndrome where his cells attack his body and nerves.
'It just hit slowly, and all of a sudden, bam, I was having a hard time walking and all of a sudden I can't walk,' said David Brenon.
David Brenon is now in a wheelchair, and there is no cure for the syndrome. Doctors say there is a treatment, but they don't know how long he will be in a wheelchair.
'Your nerves only heal 1/32 of an inch a day, and this stuff ate me alive for three months or longer. Even before I went into the hospital, it was affecting me,' said Brenon.
David was in the hospital when he found out his niece entered him into this drawing — and that he won.
'Uncle Dave has been the rock. He's been our person, not just for me but for all of my cousins (too),' said Heather Korte, David's niece who entered him into the contest.
'It was quite a surprise,' said Brenon. 'This is an awesome experience. They're wonderful people. The humbleness is there for it. In this crazy world we're in right now, a lot of people don't think about this stuff, but they should.'
Decked Out WNY is building the Brenons a ramp to their front door so David can get in and out of his home safely, and help get his independence back.
'This is going to give David the opportunity to get out on his own. If he wants to get outside, he's going to be able to do it on his own,' said Lori Brenon. 'We won't quit. We are not quitters and we're going to keep plugging along, and this is such a huge part of this.'
To find out more information about Decked Out WNY, visit its website here.
Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Anaplastic Astrocytoma
This rare, aggressive type of cancerous brain tumor can cause headaches, seizures, and changes in behavior or cognitive (thinking) function. Treatment involves surgery combined with radiation and chemotherapy. Astrocytomas are a type of brain tumor. They develop in star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes, which form part of the tissue that protects the nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord. Astrocytomas are classified by their grade — grade 1 and 2 astrocytomas grow slowly, while grade 3 and 4 astrocytomas grow faster and more aggressively. An anaplastic astrocytoma is a grade 3 astrocytoma. While rare, this type of cancerous tumor can be very serious without treatment. Keep reading to learn more about anaplastic astrocytomas, including their symptoms and the survival rates of people who have them. What are the symptoms? The symptoms of an anaplastic astrocytoma can vary based on exactly where the tumor is, but generally include: headaches lethargy or drowsiness nausea or vomiting behavioral changes memory loss seizures vision problems coordination and balance problems What causes it? Researchers aren't sure what causes anaplastic astrocytomas. However, they may be associated with: genetic abnormalities immune system abnormalities environmental factors, such as exposure to UV rays and certain chemicals lifestyle factors, such as diet or stress People with certain genetic disorders, such as neurofibromatosis type I (NF1), Li-Fraumeni syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis, have a higher risk of developing anaplastic astrocytoma. If you've had radiation therapy on your brain, you may also be at a higher risk. How is it diagnosed? Anaplastic astrocytomas are rare, so your doctor will start by discussing your medical history and performing a physical exam to identify any other possible causes of your symptoms. They may also use a neurological exam to see how your nervous system is working. This usually involves testing your balance, coordination, and reflexes. You may be asked to answer some basic questions so they can evaluate your speech and mental clarity. If your doctor thinks you may have a tumor, they'll likely use imaging such as an MRI scan or CT scan to examine a picture of your brain. If you do have an anaplastic astrocytoma, these images will also show its size and exact location. In some cases, doctors use a PET scan or SPECT scan. These metabolic scans look at cellular activity in the brain rather than the detailed anatomy seen on an MRI. These tests can sometimes be helpful for assessing tumor cells. A biopsy may also be part of the diagnostic process and can involve removing as much of the tumor as possible. How is it treated? There are several options for treating an anaplastic astrocytoma, depending on the size, location, and grade of the tumor. Surgery Surgery is usually the first step in treating an anaplastic astrocytoma. In some cases, your doctor may be able to remove all or as much of the tumor as possible. However, anaplastic astrocytomas may grow in areas of the brain that are not safe or accessible for surgery, so your doctor may only be able to safely remove part of the tumor. Tumor cells that remain because they were not identified or were surgically inaccessible can grow quickly after surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy If your tumor can't be removed with surgery or was only partially removed, you may need follow-up treatment. Radiation therapy destroys cells, especially rapidly dividing cancer cells. This will help shrink the tumor or destroy some or all of the cells that weren't removed during surgery. Anticancer drugs are referred to as chemotherapy and may be used with or after radiation therapy to continue treatment. Some people may also be treated with: epilepsy medication hydrocephalus treatment steroids physical therapy Survival rate and life expectancy According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rate for people with an anaplastic astrocytoma is as follows: 58% for those ages 22 to 44 29% for those ages 45 to 54 15% for those ages 55 to 64 The relative survival rate suggests how long someone with a condition may live after their diagnosis compared to those without the condition of the same race, sex, and age over a specific time. This is different from the overall survival rate, which is a percentage of people still alive for a specific time after diagnosis of a condition. It's most important to remember that these figures are estimates, and everyone is different. You can talk with your doctor about your specific condition. Several factors can affect your survival rate, including: the size, location, and grade of your tumor whether the tumor was completely or partially removed with surgery whether the tumor is new or recurring your overall health Your doctor can give you a better idea of your outlook based on these factors. The takeaway Anaplastic astrocytoma is a rare, aggressive type of cancerous brain tumor. Symptoms can vary but often include headache, seizures, and changes in behavior or cognitive function.
