Volunteers help 'butterfly' child

PORTSMOUTH,Va - She's called a "butterfly child" because her skin is as fragile as a butterfly's wings. Now that Jessica Simpson is an adult however, she's ready to break through the cocoon.

"It took several months to get to where we are, but I'm just happy it is happening, it's coming together."

This week a group of volunteers with the STOP Organization broke ground on an addition to her father's Portsmouth home. It will make living with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa more comfortable. Workers are making the home wheelchair accessible and building Jessica a private living area.

"Since I am 29 it would be nice to have my own living area," she said (and) "my other friends are disabled also, so now it will be accessible to them."

She'll finally be able to entertain, when it's finally done.

"[We] still need some more funds to finish everything up, but I think we've got what we need to get it dried in and get it going and hopefully we'll have a few more volunteers to step in," said Steve Rosso and volunteer and contractor with SPR Building and Contracting.

The goal is to finish by spring.  A perfect time for a butterfly child to spread her wings.