Making the holidays merry and bright
It was the day before Thanksgiving one year ago when Technical Director Rodney Dumond’s family got the news no one wants: His wife, Liz, had cancer.
Fast forward to today, and Dumond is happy to report that after months of treatment, his wife is doing very well. The family, which includes two sons, ages 10 and 7, is enjoying this year’s holiday season, free from the uncertainty and fear that often accompany a new cancer diagnosis and with the fanciest – and smartest – decorations on the block.
Executives at iDevices, a Connecticut-based company that specializes in home automation, or “smart” homes, heard the Dumond’s story through mutual friends. They wanted to make the holidays extra special for the Niantic, Conn., family. So, while Rodney, Liz and the children headed off to the Mystic Aquarium the day after Thanksgiving, an iDevices team completely outfitted the Dumond’s home with a smart-home holiday makeover, complete with indoor and outdoor lights and decorations, as well as custom devices they can use to run their house all year long.
The original Facebook video has nearly 30,000 views and has been shared hundreds of times. Dumond said his family has even been approached in public by strangers who recognize them from the video and want to wish them well.
“It’s awesome. The features of the smart-home makeover are amazing, and we’re all having a lot of fun with it,” said Dumond. “And it’s also been unbelievable how many people have seen the video and ‘recognize’ us when we’re out and about. The support we are getting from friends, and even from complete strangers, is just incredible.”
December 13, 2016