Ill Waukegan boy gets dream bedroom makeover
The Coldwell Banker Charitable Foundation, Middlefork Development and Special Spaces Northern Illinois Chapter, a nonprofit organization that creates dream bedrooms for children with life-threatening medical conditions, recently teamed up to do a bedroom makeover for Ian, an 11-year-old Waukegan resident.
On March 18, Ian came home to find a big surprise: a new dream bedroom. Ian is an extraordinary boy who lives with mitochondrial disease. Among many of his challenges, his illness causes him to be Total Parenteral Nutrition dependent, which means that he receives all his essential nutrients intravenously. Ian's medical condition also makes him fatigued and he can spend up to 80 percent of the day in his room sleeping, watching TV or playing games.
Ian shares a room with his 1-year-old sister, Guilia, who was born three months premature and has her own set of challenges. Their new bedroom is themed around huskies and Alaska - some of Ian's favorite things - and includes a mural, new furniture, bedding, storage to maximize space for medical supplies and clothing, a tin ceiling and more.
Though the family has been through many hardships, they are always smiling and take things day-by-day with the utmost optimism.
To help complete makeovers, Special Spaces depends on donations from individuals, local businesses, groups and even other foundations. Ian's room is funded by Middlefork Luxury Home Builders and The Ballis Group of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage's Halsted office.
"We are very excited to be working with Special Spaces to bring joy into the home of this very deserving family," said Andrew Bowyer, president and founder of Middlefork. "My team is thrilled to be there to volunteer on makeover day," he added.
Fran Broude, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, said, "We are so proud and excited to give Ian a new bedroom. Our foundation supports housing-related charities and so it was a natural fit to partner with Special Spaces to provide an incredible bedroom makeover for this fearless boy."
Special Spaces' goal is to create dream bedrooms for children with life-threatening medical illnesses. The focus is answering one question: Where does a child go when battling a serious illness to find peace and comfort? Their bedroom.
"A bedroom is often the only personal space a child has to represent his or her unique personality," said Amy Eiduke, Director of the Northern Illinois Chapter for Special Spaces. "For a child with a critical illness, that room should be a very special space of comfort and refuge."
To learn more about the Coldwell Banker Charitable Foundation, visit www.givehousing.com. For more information about Special Spaces, visit www.specialspaceschicagoland.org.