“Smart” home for Lincoln County quadriplegic revealed
LINCOLN COUNTY, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – Wednesday marked a momentous day for Cindy Mullins, a Lincoln County woman who became a quadruple amputee after complications from a kidney infection led to the amputation of all her limbs. The community gathered to welcome Mullins and her family into their new, fully accessible smart home, custom-designed to meet her unique needs.
Last month, ABC 36 News covered the groundbreaking of the home, and on Wednesday, the doors were officially opened. “I literally gave two arms and two legs for this house,” Mullins joked, highlighting her journey with characteristic positivity.
The reveal was an emotional moment for Mullins, who was touched by the extensive community support. “Just to see that and then all the people lined up the driveway, the support that this community and the communities around, and my family and my friends and people I don’t even know — strangers have given, I don’t think they’ll ever know what this means to me,” she expressed.
The home includes a range of high-tech features, from a voice-activated bathroom to custom-designed kitchen placements and appliances that Mullins can easily access from her wheelchair or while using prosthetics. “Everything is customized to her specific body,” said Liz Betack, the interior designer responsible for the project. Betack aimed to make Mullins’ home accessible without the clinical appearance often associated with adaptive living spaces.
Dan Weiss of Weiss Builders, who contributed to the construction, noted the collaborative effort involved. “A lot of us actually compete against each other in everyday life, and everybody came out here, pulled together and worked together. Everybody had positive attitudes. It really turned out awesome. It was amazing,” Weiss remarked.
The construction was a massive endeavor, with over 60 contractors and suppliers and more than 350 individuals helping to build the 7,000 square foot smart home in just 10 days.
Mullins, reflecting on the impact of her story, shared, “If one person found God in all this, it was worth it. And this is a good story with a happy ending.”
