....January 21, 11:50 PM
	Down On Their Luck, But Help Has Arrived By Lori Gross Moved by the misfortunes of the Brigante family, Mitchell Kersch selected them to be the winners of the Major Homes free remodeling contest, winning a free home improvement which will rid the Brigantes of an empty nursery that went unused. Kersch said that the donation, perhaps the Brigantes' only touch of good fortune for the past several years, will come to symbolize a new beginning for their family. The Brigante family, standing in what was a nursery. Catherine Brigante's sister, Sioux Sciacca, wrote a handwritten letter explaining the family's circumstances as per a contest, which she learned about through the Tribune. The letter explained her sister's anguish after having spent $11,000 on fertility treatments, and subsequently having four miscarriages, and ultimately a hysterectomy to rid her body of a cancer found in her reproductive organs. In an even worse twist of fate, just before the hysterectomy, Brigante had been prepping her body to donate her kidney to her husband Joseph, who has polycystic kidney disease, and needs a transplant. Her taxed body is now incapable of harvest for the sake of her husband, who is still in need of one. Sciacca might again be the one to help the Brigantes, this time, with her own kidney. Major Homes had sought to donate renovation services to a local needy family, similar in vein to Extreme Makeover or other reality home improvement television shows. This week, Major Homes knocked down two separation walls, which sectioned off the nursery that the Brigantes ended up not having need for. The company will also install oak flooring. The home will now have room for a dining area, or a place for the Brigantes' one son, who is 8 years old, to play in. As another measure of good will, Kersch purchased a video game for the Brigantes' son, and endowed him with a $50 gift certificate for more. He also gave the family $200 to take Sciacca out to dinner as thanks for sending in the winning letter. Mrs. Brigante is taking her tribulations in strides. "We're alive and we're semi-well," she said. "We have a beautiful little boy, and family around me." To learn more about Major Homes, go to majorhomes.net. Reach Reporter Lori Gross at lgross@queenstribune.com, or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 124.