Special Spaces Creates Dream Rooms for Special Kids

To kids, a bedroom is more than a room in the house. It’s a magical wonderland where through play, they can be anything they want and experience any adventure as big as their imagination.

But for a kid facing a life-changing and life-threatening illness, it’s an escape from the confines of a hospital room and a place where he or she can find peace and comfort in a world that can be frightening and confusing.

The nonprofit Special Spaces St. Louis is determined to give kids in need the bedrooms of their dreams at no cost to their families. With 35 rooms designed and built under their belt and 35 families offered hope and healing at a difficult time in their lives, Special Spaces and its group of dedicated volunteers are ready to bring happiness to more kids in 2016, but they need your help to make it happen.

A little boy gets a big surprise

In 2014, the Watson family of Troy, Mo. got the shock of their lives when their two-year-old, Lewis, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

While their lives became consumed with doctor appointments, lab tests and hospital stays, Lewis also faced the usual transitions that occur when a child grows from a toddler into a little boy, including the move from the crib to a twin bed. The Watsons were concerned both about Lewis’s ability to handle the change and their ability to cover the cost when faced with mounting medical bills.

“Our financial burden at that time was huge,” said his mother Kia Watson. “Lewis was ready for a new bed, but that was a big expense for us. And with all the changes going on in our lives, we were worried how he would handle this big transition.”

Special Spaces stepped in to make the changeover easier on everyone. In one day, they completely converted Lewis’s nursery into a bedroom any big boy would be proud of. The nonprofit incorporated his love of trains, planes and cars into the design, and because he was obsessed with laundry, they brought in the orange and blue colors he associated with his favorite activity.

“The moment Lewis walked in the room, he just looked around and walked right back out,” laughed Special Spaces St. Louis founder, Lacy Gambill. “We were panic-stricken that he didn’t like it, but he came back in pushing a shopping cart with a bottle of Tide, showing everyone how his room matched the detergent bottle. He was just so excited.”

Lewis was so enamored with his new space, he immediately wanted to sleep in his big bed, erasing any worry from his parents’ minds.

Remarked Watson, “Special Spaces was such a blessing for us. We were terrified, not knowing what to expect with his CF diagnosis. But they were so kind to us, bringing us so much joy with their help. Lewis loved his room so much that he didn’t want anything moved. Yesterday, for the first time in two years, he actually let us hang something new on his walls. Every once in a while, he’ll just look up at me and say, ‘Mommy I love this room.’”

An unexpected calling

Lewis’s story is just one of many that has touched hearts and inspired compassion since the St. Louis chapter of this national nonprofit was founded.

In 2011, Gambill and her four kids tuned in to catch a new show on ABC – Secret Millionaire, in which millionaires went undercover in underserved communities to learn about nonprofits making a difference for others. In that episode, the benefactor traveled to Nashville where he took part in a Special Spaces transformation, creating a room for a child battling cancer.

The story immediately touched Gambill, and when her husband Todd walked through the door a few hours later, she insisted he sit and watch the episode as well.

“The moment the show was over, Todd turned to me with tears in his eyes and said, ‘This is something we have to bring to St. Louis,’” Gambill said. “I smiled – and told him I’d already emailed the founder to get started.”

The couple soon met with the founder, Jennifer Swain, and within a few months, set up a golf tournament to raise funds for the first rooms. While continuing to work full-time jobs, the Gambills also built a strong volunteer base with individuals, corporations and other organizations who shared their vision of making dreams come true for local children.

Today, kids are referred to Secret Spaces through child life specialists at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, local physicians, or the organization’s volunteers. If the child qualifies, Gambill and her interior designer, Cheryl Snow, who is also a real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty, visit with the child to learn about his or her personality to create the theme for the rom.

After the room is measured and photos are taken, the two go to work on a design that complements the child’s likes and hobbies. Special Spaces’s creations are as diverse as the kids themselves, from dreamy princess rooms and stylish teenage getaways to hockey-themed rooms and Sesame Street settings. “We love constructing furniture and décor out of unique pieces,” said Gambill. “Everything is custom designed around the child’s interests.”

On transformation day, volunteers spend up to eight hours painting, building and organizing. If the room needs rehab work, they’ll spend the night before repairing drywall, replacing flooring and prepping the ceiling.

But when the room is finally revealed to an excited child, it’s apparent the hard work is all worth it. Every time a child spends the day playing, reading, singing, and laughing in the new bedroom, he or she can put the diagnosis and difficulties to rest, even for a few hours.

To continue their mission, Special Spaces depends on the generosity of their funders. Room renovations average $3,500, especially if any structural problems in the home exist. While caring businesses, such as Gray’s Carpet in St. Charles, often step up to the plate with donations, the cost of furniture, curtains and décor quickly adds up. The good news is, because the organization is completely volunteer-based, every dollar donated goes directly to a child in need.

To learn how make a contribution and help a child like Lewis get the space he or she deserves, follow the St. Louis chapter of Special Spaces on Facebook or contact Gambill at specialspacesstl@yahoo.com or 314-810-6388.

_{Photos courtesy of Special Spaces}