NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — As many gather with family to celebrate the holidays, there are still homeowners continuing the recovery process after the hurricane season.

What You Need To Know

  • Homeowners in the Gulf Harbors community are still building back their homes after the hurricane season

  • For one family, building back their home has been all the more exhausting, considering they are fighting another battle

  • Ralph Cramton was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia cancer three and a half years ago, being told he had six months to a year and a half to live

  • Despite having to rebuild his home, despite his cancer diagnosis, Cramton remains positive through it all

In the Gulf Harbors community, some could be seen working on Christmas Eve. A task that actually has some feeling thankful.

Trekking through the cluttered halls of his home, Ralph Cramton and his wife tidy up. The Cramton’s home, like many in Gulf Harbors, was impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

For almost 40 years, they have called the neighborhood home. This last hurricane season, however, was unlike any they had experienced before. Leaving them with quite a bit of work to do.

“It is pretty tedious,” said Cramton.

All the more exhausting when you realize there is another battle being fought.

“I’m not supposed to be here, not supposed to feel good, but I do and I thank God for that,” Cramton said.

Cramton was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia cancer three and a half years ago. He was told he had six months to a year and a half to live.

“It’s amazing, even to me, that I have the energy to even do this work because most times, if you have AML, you can’t do this kind of stuff,” he said. “You can’t handle the dust, you don’t have the energy, it changes your life.”

On top of building back his home, Cramton is still balancing a job. Working from home, he says, as a software engineer. Now, with a little more work to do.

“I just got the permit earlier this week. I put in the insulation already and I’m going to do the dry wall and put that in.”

Despite having to rebuild his home, despite his cancer diagnosis, Cramton remains positive with a laugh and a smile through it all.

“I’m blessed, I’ve always been blessed,” he says. “There are people who suffer far more than I can ever imagine, even with the things we’ve gone through. I have nothing to be upset about. I’m thankful. I’m just thankful that I can do it.”

Thankful to still have their home and thankful for their lives. Cramton says he hopes he and his wife will be able to return to their home in two to three weeks’ time.