Ashley Walton reminded David Wyant (left) that there's still a bet over a cucumber to settle. On the irght are her parents, Jeff and Robin Walton.

A year after a car wreck that left her in a coma, Ashley Walton moved into a new bedroom with a spacious handicapped-accessible bathroom in her parents’ home in Doyles River. The new addition, completed in eight weeks, was built with volunteer labor and donated funds for materials.

David and Gail Wyant, who had been instrumental in organizing the construction effort, helped arrange a celebration dinner at Mt. Moriah Methodist Church May 30. Volunteer workers who had come from as far away as Waynesboro, Mt. Solon and Fluvanna County joined Walton neighbors from White Hall and Crozet for the occasion. Wyant passed out a list of 35 men and women who had been workers and as well as a roster of nearly two dozen financial contributors who raised the $9,500 needed for materials. Among them, the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program donated $5,500, and young Emma Mahone gave her piggybank money, $81, which she had intended to donate to the SPCA.

“This is one of the most satisfying things I have ever been involved in because of how many people pitched in,” Wyant told the gathering. “Everywhere we went, people just gave us stuff. We’ve really been blessed.”

Walton has continued her gradual improvement. After a year of being sustained through a feeding tube, she has begun to be able to swallow. She can handle small portions of milkshake and applesauce. She reminded Wyant that he promised to eat a whole cucumber, a food which he does not like for some reason, to mark the day when she can eat again on her own. Walton told him she’s looking for an especially big one.

In another sign of growing strength, Walton also traveled to Madison County recently to attend the graduation party of a cousin.