Beautiful Home Renovation for Family of 9/11 First Responder | George to the Rescue Episode

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In our Season 14 premiere episode, the ‘George to the Rescue’ team surprises the family of Tom Oelkers, a brave FDNY firefighter who spent most of his career at Ladder 44 in the Bronx and passed away from a World Trade Center-related illness, with a well-deserved renovation of their Long Island home.

Meet Erika Oelkers and her three amazing daughters: Camryn, Juliet, and Scarlett. Erika, who herself battled Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after working in downtown NYC for four years after 9/11, remains the steadfast rock of her family as she helps her children navigate life in the wake of grief, while also lovingly caring for her eldest daughter, Camryn, who was diagnosed with RETT Syndrome and requires one-to-one assistance every second of her day. Despite the hardships she’s had to take on, Erika continues to be a force of nature as a mother and a total inspiration in her community, especially when it comes to advocating for causes close to her heart such as Rett Syndrome Research Trust, Tunnel to Towers, and T.O. Family Foundation (the organization she established in memory of her late husband to support first responders and their loved ones).

*Special shoutout to our generous sponsor 3M, as well as the following volunteers and local businesses who donated their time and services and joined host George Oliphant and interior designer Liz Kohart in making this stunning renovation a reality for the Oelkers:

3M
LIZ KOHART INTERIORS
HOMECRAFT CONTRACTING CORP
CAPSTONE PLUMBING & HEATING
CUSTOM WALLPAPERING, INC
DELLON SALES COMPANY:
DURAVIT
HARBY DECORATORS
H & M PAINT
HUDSON RIVER MILLS
JUST HANG IT
INSPIRATIONAL ABSTRACTS
MCGOLDRICK FINISH CARPENTRY CORP
MONARCH ELECTRICAL SUPPLY
SIENNA MARBLE & TILE
STARK CARPET
THE COMPLETE WINDOW
THIBAUT
UPRIGHT ELECTRIC CORP

We would also like to extend our utmost gratitude to FDNY ENGINE 92/LADDER 44/BATTALION 17
and TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION for their support!

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22 thoughts on “Beautiful Home Renovation for Family of 9/11 First Responder | George to the Rescue Episode”

  3. Fire fighters police and medical workers are the world’s superhero’s they put there life and love into there Job they deserve the the greatest respect for what they do for the world

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  6. Oh George & your most phenomenal team has done it again! Phenomenal work as always so glad your back for another season I was just binge watching all your episodes last night! Thank you to everyone invoked & affected by the rescue

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  10. I can never wait for the next video. All of the stories are so inspirational to me. But this one made me cry. The family has endured so many difficult things, but remain strong. Great remodel once again!❤

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  11. You hear a lot about first responders getting cancer, you don’t really hear much about the other people who lived/worked near the towers getting cancer as well and I never even thought about that til now. Of course they’d also be at risk, it just never crossed my mind.

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  14. Kudos to George to the Rescue this episode had me in tears. It was very heartwarming. with everything she has endured she definitely deserved this renovation!!! Your team did an absolutely phenomenal job. Thank you again.🇺🇸

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  17. I enjoy watching these videos,but i will say the older ones are much better.For some reason to me it seems like they fit so much more into them.With joking with the workers as well as showing all the people at the end in full,giving hugs etc. and even showing the work being done in greater detail. Not that i guess it matters but the only thing i could never figure out is that they talk about the community getting together to make it happen and yet i always hear that the lumber yard donated everything or the flooring people donated everything and so on so to me no money should be needed because everybody and everything is donated so where's the money go from all the community getting together.?

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  18. Thank you George and the crew! So nice to see you back at life-changing builds! Thank you for help the Oelkers Family and honoring the legacy that Tom sadly left behind. We need to take care of the first responders that are dying from their heroism. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Enjoy your resuce Erica and girls! Honoring Tom in my heart and donating to some worthy causes that support first responders. Sending heaps of love!

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  21. I was working in the city when this happened. Fortunately for me I was on 50th and Madison Ave so nowhere near the towers. We always hear about a first responder having cancer due to 9/11, but you never hear about someone working in that area getting cancer. You don't think of that. 7 buildings were affected that day. It makes sense. Wishing healing for these families that lost their loved ones then and now. I no longer live in New York, but it will always be my home. My heart is with all of you.

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