WAKE COUNTY, N.C. -- The Earp family was forever changed this summer. After the tragic loss of their son, they continued to face adversity after adversity, until one group made it its mission to bare some of the burden.

All the memories in Vickie Earp's life are now defined by two moments: before and after.

"It's never going to be the same," Earp said. "Never. Not just for me, but for all of us. No parent expects their child to go before they do."

It was July first. Vickie and Randy Earp's 36-year-old son, Jeremie, saw an 8-year-old boy struggling in the water near the Little River Dam in Zebulon and jumped in to save him. While he was able to hold the boy above water to be rescued, Jeremie tragically disappeared under the water.

"Luckily, the mama of that little boy will be able to put him to bed at night," Earp said. "But my little boy, he's never coming home."

The tough times didn't stop there. Randy is terminally ill and Vickie lost her job. As everything was crumbling around them, so was their house.

"The birds and the weather had really took a beating on it," said Hampton Smith, of 127 Homes. "It was really in need. There was water damage. We resided it and waterproofed it up tight."

Jeremie's motivation for moving back home had been to renovate it. Now, OneCompassion, a local non-profit, was making his final wish come true.

"We wanted to stand by them and gather the whole community to show them how much they're loved and supported," said Erin Rolandelli, Executive Director at OneCompassion.

Volunteers redid the siding, repaired insulations, added new windows, handrails, and some fresh paint. They were a group of strangers helping strangers -- just as Jeremie had.

"It totally comes full circle," Rolandelli said. "There was a need. They're just trying their best to make it. We were able to fill in that gap."

While Jeremie no longer lives here, his spirit does. The house is starting to feel like home again."

"Things will get better," Earp said. "It takes time and not every day is going to be good. But that day, that was a great day."

More than 30 volunteers came out to renovate the Earp family's home. With all the help, they were able to knock out the project in just two days.