Twins

Nathan & Nicholas's Story

3-2-1! Blast off into space with Nathan and Nicholas in their new, night sky themed room. With twinkling lights, a solar system hanging from the ceiling and new comfy bedding, we hope these two loving and deserving boys will have sweet dreams every night!

Nathan and Nicholas are stars to Mom, Dad, and their four year old sister. This giving and grateful unit emanates love. The family was nominated multiple times for a room makeover and the nominations were heart-felt and brought tears to our eyes. This family exemplifies the spirit of Cecily's Closet - leaving no rock unturned when it comes to finding ways to enlighten and enhance their children's lives.

Nathan and Nicholas, 11 years old, were born with  Microcephaly. Microcephaly is a rare neurological condition in which an infant's head is significantly smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex. Sometimes detected at birth, microcephaly usually is the result of the brain developing abnormally in the womb or not growing as it should after birth. Children with microcephaly, like Nathan and Nicholas, often have developmental issues. Both boys suffer from seizures that result in developmental delays.

Despite the boys' challenges, Mom and Dad are very vigilant with all of their early interventional therapies. They have invested in a special indoor swing and trampoline to provide sensory input at home.

One of the nominations described Mom and Dad as warm, loving and devoted - who go above and beyond on a daily basis for their children. Another added that every nurse current and past will do anything for this family because they are so kind and respectful to everyone.

And we agree. Both Mom and Dad are very selfless and giving. Despite everything they have on their plate, this family still took the time to prepare treats for our volunteers today. It was just yet another example of their generous and caring spirit.  We hope this makeover makes them feel very loved and that the boys find the room calming and soothing.

The team worked hard to create a space that was not just beautiful, but functional too. The budget for this room was devoted to raising the beds and installing a Hoyer Lift, to make day to day care for these growing boys easier for their mighty (but tiny) Mom. In addition, we wanted to create a sensory room with visually interesting elements that lit up on the walls. We think the team created a sparkly, serene space that definitely seemed to get a twinkle out of Nathan and Nicholas.

Thank you PaintGreen for providing us with the platinum grey walls that set the tone for our solar system and night sky themed room. Thank you Steve Bair for building a custom changing table for this lovely family. It was perfection and a beautiful and functional addition to this space. Thank you to Bobby for making several visits to the house to provide a new base for these beds to help raise them so the family can benefit from a Hoyer lift. And last but not least, thank you to TVIA for their contribution of time, talent and funds. We are so grateful to our volunteers who are truly the heart and soul of our organization.  Thank you to our donors and supporters for making our 65th room makeover possible!

Teen Volunteers in Action (TVIA)

Thank you to Teen Volunteers in Action (TVIA) for helping us complete our 65th makeover for children with special needs in San Diego! We've said it before and we'll say it again - we adore working with this wonderful organization! We had three devoted teens and their supportive mothers helping us complete the transformation of Nathan and Nicholas's room from baby to big boy rooms!

These teens were immediately set to work - unloading the van, assembling a new storage unit, building planets and carefully hanging them from the ceiling. From cleaning to making beds, these teenage boys are devoted volunteers. We are always impressed with their respectfulness, willingness to help and their creative ideas!

Thank you to TVIA for generously donating their time and talent AND for the very generous donations that enabled us to tackle our very functional AND decorative makeover!

Teen Volunteers in Action is an organization of young men who, together with their families, participate in structured programs of volunteerism, philanthropy and personal development. TVIA believe that through volunteer projects like Cecily's Closet, these young men will grow up to become strong community leaders. We had seven teens help with every aspect of the room – from painting the closet, to building the furniture, cleaning, and interviewing the family. We would like to commend them for their hard-work and we look forward to working with TVIA in the future!