Cindy Jeffers was nearly speechless on Saturday when just moments after stepping out of a limo after a week's stay in Hyannis, a large tarp crashed to the ground to reveal her completely overhauled Weweantic Shores home.

"It's so cute!" she said through tears as she stared at the outside of the newly expanded home, complete with fresh siding, a redone driveway, and a meticulously landscaped lawn.

Jeffers was whisked down-Cape on Friday, April 26, and told only that volunteers would be redoing parts of her home to make life easier for her and her two grandsons, whom she raises on her own.

The older boy, 12-year-old Jeremiah, suffers from cerebral palsy. He can neither walk nor talk, and depends on Jeffers for all of his needs. Jeffers herself suffers from lupus, and could no longer ignore the fact that caring for Jeremiah was taking a physical toll on her body -- especially, carrying his near 100-pound body into the bathroom, which was too small to fit the boy's wheelchair.

New Bedford-based Fernandes Masonry, charities Cameron's Kids, Team Noah, and the Trevor and Jordan Alves Foundation, learned about Jeremiah after reading an article in the New Bedford Standard-Times earlier this year which chronicled loving neighbors Paula and Charlie Barros' efforts to help the family.

Paula and Charlie help Jeffers with everything from laundry to getting Jeremiah on the school bus, had been working to raise money to renovate Jeffers' bathroom and provide for other needs, such as a purchase of a handicap-accessible van.

Cameron's Kids founder Debbie Goulart of Marion and her husband, Jeffrey, had just lost their son, 18-year-old Cameron, to cerebral palsy and saw the news story as a sign from Cameron that they should help Jeremiah.

The three charities teamed up, and with a list of volunteers that likely topped 100 people, decided to take on "Jeremiah's Project," which overhauled the family's home in just one week.

The team left no stone unturned.

What began as a project to get Jeffers a laundry room and a washer and dryer, so she would no longer have to spend more than $80 per week to keep her grandchildren in clean clothes, soon grew to an entire home makeover.

On Saturday, Jeffers' younger grandson, Aiden, stood before the home's new wheelchair ramp and cut the ceremonial ribbon to allow everyone inside -- into a home the family could barely recognize.

Jeremiah now has his own, handicap-accessible bathroom. Aiden and his grandmother share a second bathroom. The home's walls were torn down, put back up, and painted. The floors are redone. The kitchen is renovated and has brand new appliances. The entire home was filled with furniture donated by Swansea-based Cardi's Furniture.

"Furniture and all," Jeffers said as she walked around her new home, "I mean, my God!"

Jeremiah was visibly excited when volunteers showed him his new room, which is located off of his grandmother's. His bathroom can be accessed from his bedroom or an adjacent hallway.

The backyard now features playground equipment, a new patio set, and a grill.

"I want to thank everybody who participated," Jeffers told the more than 100 volunteers and friends who gathered to welcome her home. "I never expected this in my life."

Jeffers said she was in disbelief when she was approached by Goulart of Cameron's Kids so soon after the family had lost its beloved Cameron.

"I can't imagine if it happened to Jeremiah..." Jeffers said. "With these children, every breath they take, you take with them."

Goulart credited her father, Nelson Cardoso, with getting the project rolling. Cardoso had pitched the project to Victor Fernandes of Fernandes Masonry. As it turned out, Fernandes and his wife, Christine, had also seen the newspaper article and had wanted to help though their own foundation, Team Noah, named for their 11-year-old son who suffers from mitochondrial disease.

"You are now family to every single one of us here," Goulart told Jeffers. "You're our inspiration."

Victor Fernandes called the makeover week "amazing," and thanked the dozens upon dozens of companies who donated time, labor, or both to bring the project to fruition.

Paula and Charlie Barros were humbled by the help for their dear friend.

"I've been in construction for a lot of years, but I've never seen anything like this," Charlie Barros said of the speedy work of the builders.

Charlie called the Jeffers family "the best neighbors we've ever had. ... She should be [named] 'woman of the year.'"

He vowed: "As long as I'm here, I'll keep helping them."

Paula was floored.

"I can't believe this has happened. I tried for a whole year to get this done for [Jeffers] and for Jeremiah," Paula Barros said. "I can't thank everyone enough. I love them so much."

Goulart recognized the angels of each of the three charities, as it appeared they were keeping a watchful eye over the project.

"Thank you Cameron, Trevor, and Jordan," she said, "for giving us beautiful weather this week."

And before Jeffers, Jeremiah, and Aiden were allowed to settle into their new home, the adults all enjoyed a champagne toast.

"Welcome to our family," Goulart said in toasting Jeffers and the new home. "May you have many, many lasting memories with Jeremiah."

Money is still being raised to get the Jeffers family a handicap-accessible vehicle. If you'd like to help, checks can be made out to the Jeremiah Jeffers Fund at Eastern Bank. The address for Eastern Bank is PO Box 431, Wareham, MA, 02571.