BAYVIEW - Yvonne Wallis has been on a North Idaho-Eastern Washington road trip for the past week with her brother visiting friends and family.

Since she's been gone, friends from her church Bible study group and others completed a major makeover of her white and yellow mobile home, which sits on a hill overlooking Lake Pend Oreille.

After returning home Thursday night, she got her first look at the changes.

"This is wonderful," Wallis said.

More than a dozen friends contributed their skills and labor over eight days. Wallis knew her friends would be fixing her place up, but she didn't know how much.

In December 2010, Wallis, then 58, suffered major head injuries in a brutal hammer attack inside her home. A neighbor burst into her place for no reason and started swinging a large hammer at her, her son, grandson and daughter-in-law, Patricia Heath, 43, who was killed. The killer's mobile home, which was next door, has been removed from its spot.

Wallis' home has been scrubbed. There's new paint everywhere, new carpet, and new lighting was installed. New appliances and furniture are in place.

"She was sitting right here when she got attacked with a hammer," said Wallis' friend Genette Gabica, pointing to a spot in Wallis' living room. "She lives every day in that surrounding."

Her friends have been working hard to eliminate any reminders of that day. Only a couple pieces of furniture and a TV will remain.

"We want her to know there are good people in this world, and we want her to know there are people who love and care for her," said Gabica, who manages The Bitter End Marina in Bayview and first met Wallis at a fundraiser after the attack.

Before the makeover, the home was very dark inside, crowded with furniture and hanging plants, Gabica said. It's bright and cheery now, she said.

After sleeping in a recliner because a bad back won't let Wallis lie down comfortably, she now has an adjustable bed. Gabica found one online, and a stranger donated part of the money for it after hearing of her need.

She's also got a new energy-efficient window in her bedroom to keep the cold out.

"I think she's going to be able to use her bedroom for the first time in years," said friend Cliff Hall, of Spirit Lake. Wallis, Gabica, Hall and others are part of a "Home Group," which meets regularly in Bayview and is associated with Real Life Ministries churches.

The exterior was powerwashed and the deck was repainted. There is healthy new soil in the vegetable garden, and flowers have been planted around the home. Pavers have been laid down leading to her back door, which was repainted. She's also got a new run for her little dog, Ginger, her pride and joy.

"No matter how bad things are, there are always people around who care about you," Hall said. Among other things, he replaced the main electrical panel, all the plug-ins and the covers in the home.

Before Wallis saw the makeover, her next-door neighbor and friend, Herb Huseland, predicted, "I think she's going to get blown away."

She was.

"Oh my God, oh my God," Wallis repeated as she took it all in.

Huseland has taken Wallis to Seattle a couple times for medical procedures. He's seen the difficult time she's had battling back physically and emotionally from the attack.

He said he's lived in Bayview for 19 years and can't remember another violent crime during that time, except a minor bar fight now and then.

"For this attack to happen shocked everyone in the community," he said.