Debbie and Nicole Riel were running out of options when Gail Thomas stopped by one day to check on the ailing mother and daughter. Their home needed many repairs. It was draining both their finances and their energy, and a winning lottery ticket seemed to be their only hope.

Now, after months of labor, Debbie and Nicole’s new home at 4 Autumn St. in Goffstown is complete, thanks to the generosity of the Goffstown community.

Suffering from breast cancer and after two decades of debilitating physical illnesses, Debbie was completely dependent on daughter Nicole for care until the unthinkable happened – Nicole contracted a deadly bacterial infection in her heart and nearly lost her life during what became a six-week hospital stay.

“Nicole was trying to go to college full time and take care of me,” said Debbie. “Just as things were starting to get a little better for us, Nicole got sick. We were real close to losing the house, and had nowhere to turn.”

Thomas knew this situation could not be ignored, so she approached the Rev. Bill Exner, the rector of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. Because they were not part of St. Matthew’s congregation, Debbie and Nicole were surprised when Exner stopped by to see them. He asked what he could do for them for the Christmas holidays, and Debbie assured him, “Nicole’s survival was my gift.”

George Welch, a parishioner at St. Matthews, said, “It takes a lot of courage to open your private life to people and ask for help. We all thought, ‘Gee, wouldn’t it be nice if we could do something,’ and it just started from there!” In the months that followed, more than 100 members of the community stepped up to build Debbie and Nicole a new house.

Local builder Al Gamans realized a single-level modular home would be much more appropriate for the two recovering patients. The next thing Debbie and Nicole knew, Tim Redmond was excavating the site.

Many others also rendered their services, such as Pawjer Construction, who installed a septic system; Harvey Construction, who poured concrete; Armand and Joy LeBlanc, who delivered a furnace; Carlyle Floors, who provided hardwood so there would be no carpet chemicals in the air; and Janas Plumbing and Norton Phelps, who installed the plumbing and electric.

“We’ve made a lot of new friends,” said Debbie. “The people of this town have really stepped forward and given us a lot.”

Community members donated time and energy, wrote checks and moved the pair into their new home this summer. “The people who contributed aren’t going to get famous,” said Welch. “They just did it because it’s the right thing to do. When you think of how bad the economy is, they could have said no, but they chose not to.” “(The house) is the perfect size for both of us,” said Debbie. Debbie said the part of the house she likes the most is the walk-in shower, with its built-in seat.

“It’s beautiful! And the a/c, that’s beautiful!” Nicole has a den now, filled with American Heart Association memorabilia that she uses in her role as the New Hampshire spokesman.

Nicole’s back in college, and though her illness has left her with some significant neurological issues, she and Debbie are upbeat.

“You open your mouth and say you’re miserable. Nobody really wants to hear that, and then everyone is miserable. You walk around with a smile on your face, and soon everyone has a smile,” said Nicole. “We are so blessed,” said Debbie. “We are really blessed.”