Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Mary Davis, 72, lives in Columbia's Historic Melrose area.
You step into her home and you can tell it needs work.
Volunteers are set to renovate, but they've hit a road block.
"It's for my health, not because I want to beautify my home," said Mary Davis.
Davis has lived in the historic Melrose Heights district in Columbia for almost 30 years.
Last year she was in a diabetic coma resulting in the amputation of her leg.
"But I do not let that stop me," said Davis.
Living in an old home and being handicapped, Davis needed help to make her home handicap accessible. That includes lower windows allowing her to be able to get out in case of a fire.
"My windows are up too high, I would not be able to get out of my house."
Besides the windows being high they are also deteriorating... Letting cold air in and making her electric bills more than $400 a month.
"I suffer from hypothermia, so I can't be cold."
Davis found several organizations to help renovate her home. When the builders said they would need to replace her windows the Historic Columbia Preservation stepped in and stopped everything
"They are saying because this house is so old and has been on this corner for so long, that I cant take the windows out of my home to be comfortable."
The Conservation District guidelines say that if windows are replaced they should match the original size and detailing. But in Davis' case her handicap windows would not fit the same criteria.
"I know there are other homes with new windows so why can't I get new windows in my home."
She is thankful that she found help, but upset that they can't start work until getting approved for the windows.
"God has opened the door and I thank him for opening the door, because when he opens a door no man can close it and I am praying to him to open this door for me."