Progress Blog: Mission of Giving
Written by Emily Dolton, Artist, Project Manager, Volunteer to many!
I have been blessed with working on two rooms; and they could not be more different! The first, for Toddler Max with Smith Magenis Syndrome, is about family health more than anything else. Smith Magenis is a rare deletion
on the 17th chromosome and can cause developmental delays, speech language difficulties and sleep issues. What Max lacks in communication skills, he makes up for in supreme cuteness, Hulk-like strength, and an amazing, Mission Impossible/Jason Bourne-like skill to escape from whatever device mom and dad rig up to get some much needed sleep. Max’s unusual sleep schedule, coupled by his unique escape artist qualities pose a
risk to his safety. As a result, his parents are living on “high alert” from the
combined fear and sleep deprivation. Max’s room is all about functional security as he has many of the items the Sweet Dream Makeovers might
normally provide.
Enter the amazing team at Bassett Furniture. Headed by Laura Cross, the team is coming up with lockable storage solutions and purposeful play ideas to keep Max occupied while the rest of the world is sleeping. Their entire staff is doing an internal funds drive to make this dream room possible. Max’s parents use Disney trips to facilitate language skills, so Bassett team member Cindy, a Disney-lover herself, is using her Disney buying power to get some sweet steals. I have created a design concept that encompasses all of Max’s favorite attractions. Ryan McDaniel, of McDaniel General Contracting is building a stellar peek-a-boo door and adding some great design elements to Emily’s mural as well. We can always count on Ryan for Creative solutions!
Our newest find is Shutter Guys is North County. The Head of a family owned and run business, Dave carries a wide range of shutters and unlike some shutter businesses that rep a particular brand, Dave matches the
brand to the need of the customer. In this case, a decorative shutter with a
close to the wall profile, spines on the inside, and an easily replaceable
mechanic system that holds the louvers in place should they get damaged. Dave’s daughter is a behavioral specialist, so he understands the
needs for safety and durability in a shutter for a child with special needs. We
feel blessed to have found him!
The second room is for brothers Angel and Adrian. Their room has a more structural need. At six, Angel’s muscular dystrophy was exacerbated and soon he needed a motorized wheelchair to move around. Now a teen, he and brother Adrian enjoy playing video games online with kids all over the world, but they also enjoy watching and playing football. Angel is a Denver
Broncos fan and Adrian loves the Philadelphia Eagles. Dad, Tomas, is always looking for a way to make things better for his boys; and he recently removed the wall between their rooms. The carpet is each room is a different color so Shaw Contract Group and Sid’s Carpet Barn are ensuring Angel has flooring tough enough to withstand the power of his motorized wheelchair.
Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary Special Education Technicians are working on accessorizing the rooms and making the boys tech connections work. We look forward to working with Dream Dinners, our partner in this makeover, for a great reveal! - Emily Dolton
Thank you Emily for sharing your progress and for your amazing contributions for our Mission of Giving Program!
Onwards & upwards!
Written by Emily Dolton, Artist, Project Manager, Volunteer to many!
I have been blessed with working on two rooms; and they could not be more different! The first, for Toddler Max with Smith Magenis Syndrome, is about family health more than anything else. Smith Magenis is a rare deletion
on the 17th chromosome and can cause developmental delays, speech language difficulties and sleep issues. What Max lacks in communication skills, he makes up for in supreme cuteness, Hulk-like strength, and an amazing, Mission Impossible/Jason Bourne-like skill to escape from whatever device mom and dad rig up to get some much needed sleep. Max’s unusual sleep schedule, coupled by his unique escape artist qualities pose a
risk to his safety. As a result, his parents are living on “high alert” from the
combined fear and sleep deprivation. Max’s room is all about functional security as he has many of the items the Sweet Dream Makeovers might
normally provide.
Enter the amazing team at Bassett Furniture. Headed by Laura Cross, the team is coming up with lockable storage solutions and purposeful play ideas to keep Max occupied while the rest of the world is sleeping. Their entire staff is doing an internal funds drive to make this dream room possible. Max’s parents use Disney trips to facilitate language skills, so Bassett team member Cindy, a Disney-lover herself, is using her Disney buying power to get some sweet steals. I have created a design concept that encompasses all of Max’s favorite attractions. Ryan McDaniel, of McDaniel General Contracting is building a stellar peek-a-boo door and adding some great design elements to Emily’s mural as well. We can always count on Ryan for Creative solutions!
Our newest find is Shutter Guys is North County. The Head of a family owned and run business, Dave carries a wide range of shutters and unlike some shutter businesses that rep a particular brand, Dave matches the
brand to the need of the customer. In this case, a decorative shutter with a
close to the wall profile, spines on the inside, and an easily replaceable
mechanic system that holds the louvers in place should they get damaged. Dave’s daughter is a behavioral specialist, so he understands the
needs for safety and durability in a shutter for a child with special needs. We
feel blessed to have found him!
The second room is for brothers Angel and Adrian. Their room has a more structural need. At six, Angel’s muscular dystrophy was exacerbated and soon he needed a motorized wheelchair to move around. Now a teen, he and brother Adrian enjoy playing video games online with kids all over the world, but they also enjoy watching and playing football. Angel is a Denver
Broncos fan and Adrian loves the Philadelphia Eagles. Dad, Tomas, is always looking for a way to make things better for his boys; and he recently removed the wall between their rooms. The carpet is each room is a different color so Shaw Contract Group and Sid’s Carpet Barn are ensuring Angel has flooring tough enough to withstand the power of his motorized wheelchair.
Lindbergh Schweitzer Elementary Special Education Technicians are working on accessorizing the rooms and making the boys tech connections work. We look forward to working with Dream Dinners, our partner in this makeover, for a great reveal! - Emily Dolton
Thank you Emily for sharing your progress and for your amazing contributions for our Mission of Giving Program!
Onwards & upwards!
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