KANSAS CITY, Mo. – When the Wilson family bought their Northland home about a year ago it was just about perfect. Big rooms, no stairs and just a block away from 6-year-old Chloe’s school.
There was just one problem – the bathroom.
“It’s not wide enough for Chloe’s wheel chair to go inside. She needs to be carried,” said her mom, Carol Ann.
“The door needs to be more bigger,” said Chloe who has a rare type of muscular dystrophy called LAMA2.
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Plus the sink is too high, the toilet too small and even the shower is a struggle for someone who can’t move their legs. They are common bathroom problems almost every family
with a child with disabilities face.
That’s why Schloegel Design Remodel each year, for the last 14 years, has given away a new bathroom remodel to a family with a child with special needs.
These last two years, Schloegel partnered with the Olivia Bloomfield Foundation to find those deserving families.
The bathroom-giveaway-program is called Olivia’s Big Splash, named in memory of Olivia Bloomfield who became an advocate for every child, like her, living with a disability.
Carol Ann Wilson said she was shopping when she got the phone call telling her that her family was the winner of Olivia’s Big Splash.
“I immediately started crying,” she said. “I had to find a private place to go in Target. It was pretty amazing and surreal. “
Before Schloegel could gut and expand the family’s only full bathroom – it built the family a stylish bathroom in the basement – so the Wilsons would not be left without any bathroom during construction.
That second bathroom is beautiful, but it’s definitely the bathroom going in upstairs that has Chloe most excited.
“Who are they making it over for?” Carol Ann asked her daughter.
“For Chloe,” Chloe said, with her face breaking into a smile.
The Wilsons worked with Schloegel designer Kelly Summers who helped them pick out everything from faucets to tile.
Schloegel Director Jeff Penrose oversaw construction.
“It’s just awesome to have a chance to get to be a part of their life and story,” Penrose said.
After a couple of months of waiting, it was time for the big reveal.
Chloe was mesmerized.
The shower was now big enough for her to easily use with the help of her parents. Plus the sink faucet was now reachable. Plus she could turn it off and on by simply waving her hands in front of it.
There’s also a built-in changing table, making it easy for mom to get Chloe from bathed to dressed.
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Carol Ann Wilson said the bathroom will not only help her daughter, but allows the family to open their home to other people with disabilities without worry.
“Just the pride I have in being ‘oh come over to our house, we can accommodate you here and we’d love to have you over,’ “ she said, her voice breaking with emotion. “That’s just going to be really special to us.”
Because even more important than being beautiful, this bathroom is designed to help people with disabilities maintain their freedom and their dignity in the most private room in the house.
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