Laurens Dream room (andBrotherTy's)
Donation protected
In February 2016, we were introduced to a wonderful family, The Mullins Family. Their daughter Lauren (14) after unexplained illnesses was diagnosed with colon cancer, a rare cancer in children. As they have navigated through this process, we recently learned that Lauren will be having surgery on February 17th to remove her colon, ovaries and uterus with more cancer treatment to follow. Her bravery, beauty and poise took our breath away as we met her today. We can't wait to get started on this dream room to help her recover and give her a peaceful, comfortable space to maximize her healing. Please consider a donation to help offset material costs. Of course, all of our design services as well as some of our contractor costs are donated. :) Please read below.
Here is a little more about Lauren and her journey:
"Lauren's diagnosis is colon adenocarcinoma AKA colon cancer. Having no family history, a diagnosis of cancer was totally unexpected. Lauren was a perfectly healthy, active 14 year old who went to school one morning (Feb 2015) & in the afternoon we reviewed a phone call from the school nurse asking us to pick her up because she was complaining of abdominal pain. Thinking she had appendicitis my husband took her to the emergency room. Staff immediately knew something was wrong & Lauren was transferred to Rady.
At Rady Lauren went through multiple procedures to find out the problem & was inpatient from Feb-Mar 2015. We spent the next few months going to doctors appointments & having surgeries to repair a kidney problem that was discovered. We thought our life would return to normal after surgery, but Lauren wasn't fully bouncing back to her normal self. We knew something was still wrong.
At each appointment we pressed hard to find answers & in August 2015 just days before starting her Freshman year, Lauren was diagnosed with cancer.
Lauren had multiple tumors in her colon & one of those tumors was thought to have perforated her bowel wall in Feb causing the initial hospital stay. We later found out that her tumor also involved her ovaries & uterus as well. Because we have no family history & because of the extent of her tumors genetic testing was recommended. Lauren tested positive for a rare genetic abnormality called Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency Syndrome which puts her at high risk for developing multiple types of cancer in her lifetime. It also places her siblings & us as her parents at high risk for developing cancer in our lifetime.
Diagnosis was difficult because colon cancer at such a young age is considered rare (even though colon cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in adults). However, that number is growing rapidly in children.
I consider even managing to nail down her diagnosis to be part of her fight with cancer. One year after her initial hospital stay she will have surgery to remove her diseased organs. She has been through so much in one year. I will never begin to understand how these kids manage to navigate through this horrible process & still be so amazing.
I am honored to share her story because her story helps me to remember how much of a fighter she is. The best & biggest heroes come to us in these little tiny packages that we hold so close to our heart.
That's probably more than enough info for what you wanted to share, but that's her story. I can't wait for you to be a part of it! "
Savvy Giving by Design (join our group page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/SavvyGivingbyDesign/) is in the process of acquiring our non-profit status as a 501c3. We are a philantrhopic arm of Savvy Interiors, Inc. (www.savvyinteriors.com) and all of our design services are donated free of charge.
As we enter into this new chapter, we are still relying on crowd funding to pay all material costs of a "dream" room for Lauren and a makeover for her brother Ty's room as well. I hope you will join us. Here is a small graphic that explains more about how we work.
Here is a little more about Lauren and her journey:
"Lauren's diagnosis is colon adenocarcinoma AKA colon cancer. Having no family history, a diagnosis of cancer was totally unexpected. Lauren was a perfectly healthy, active 14 year old who went to school one morning (Feb 2015) & in the afternoon we reviewed a phone call from the school nurse asking us to pick her up because she was complaining of abdominal pain. Thinking she had appendicitis my husband took her to the emergency room. Staff immediately knew something was wrong & Lauren was transferred to Rady.
At Rady Lauren went through multiple procedures to find out the problem & was inpatient from Feb-Mar 2015. We spent the next few months going to doctors appointments & having surgeries to repair a kidney problem that was discovered. We thought our life would return to normal after surgery, but Lauren wasn't fully bouncing back to her normal self. We knew something was still wrong.
At each appointment we pressed hard to find answers & in August 2015 just days before starting her Freshman year, Lauren was diagnosed with cancer.
Lauren had multiple tumors in her colon & one of those tumors was thought to have perforated her bowel wall in Feb causing the initial hospital stay. We later found out that her tumor also involved her ovaries & uterus as well. Because we have no family history & because of the extent of her tumors genetic testing was recommended. Lauren tested positive for a rare genetic abnormality called Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency Syndrome which puts her at high risk for developing multiple types of cancer in her lifetime. It also places her siblings & us as her parents at high risk for developing cancer in our lifetime.
Diagnosis was difficult because colon cancer at such a young age is considered rare (even though colon cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in adults). However, that number is growing rapidly in children.
I consider even managing to nail down her diagnosis to be part of her fight with cancer. One year after her initial hospital stay she will have surgery to remove her diseased organs. She has been through so much in one year. I will never begin to understand how these kids manage to navigate through this horrible process & still be so amazing.
I am honored to share her story because her story helps me to remember how much of a fighter she is. The best & biggest heroes come to us in these little tiny packages that we hold so close to our heart.
That's probably more than enough info for what you wanted to share, but that's her story. I can't wait for you to be a part of it! "
Savvy Giving by Design (join our group page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/SavvyGivingbyDesign/) is in the process of acquiring our non-profit status as a 501c3. We are a philantrhopic arm of Savvy Interiors, Inc. (www.savvyinteriors.com) and all of our design services are donated free of charge.
As we enter into this new chapter, we are still relying on crowd funding to pay all material costs of a "dream" room for Lauren and a makeover for her brother Ty's room as well. I hope you will join us. Here is a small graphic that explains more about how we work.
Organizer and beneficiary
Savvy GivingbyDesign
Organizer
San Diego, CA
Savvy Giving by Design
Beneficiary
