Nate Berkus, Oprah Winfrey’s celebrity designer, was in Ayer yesterday changing the life of a family that’s been through a lot. Berkus unveiled a customized, 1,900-square-foot house for quadruple-amputee Monica Jorge, her husband, Tony, and their two daughters. The ranch has a garage with a ramp into the house, a customized kitchen with a side-opening oven, wide bathrooms, and a chairlift to go downstairs to the basement.
In 2007, days after giving birth, Jorge developed a horrific infection that forced doctors to amputate her arms and legs. A Globe magazine story chronicling her recovery caught the attention of Winfrey, who had Monica on her show. Winfrey named Monica a “Warrior Mom,’’ gave her a new SUV, and vowed to build her a new home, all expenses paid (translation: no mortgage).
