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PRESS RELEASE Gavin's House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gavin’s Miracle Home Make-Over “Continuing Erin’s Dream”
This is a story of two mothers – both traveling a very difficult road. This is a story about two mothers who have simply refused to allow their life story to end with the death of their precious children. Gavin’s Miracle Home Make-Over is the perpetuation of a dream that began as a very real nightmare for Erin Curtis and her family. It is a dream that turns her nightmare into a dream come true for another unfortunate family.
In the summer of 2005, Erin Curtis learned that she was pregnant with her first child. Friends and family hosted a baby shower for the mother to be. Erin also went on a few shopping sprees. In a very short time she had all of the necessary parenting tools and equipment that she thought she would need. Little did she know that the road ahead for her as a mother was going to be anything but ordinary.
Life as new parents was routine for Erin and Jeff the day they brought their beautiful daughter Avery home from the hospital. Five months later, all this would change instantly when doctors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) informed them that their daughter had ALL – Infant Leukemia. Just 11 months after that dreadful diagnosis, Erin and Jeff bid farewell to their infant daughter at the age of 16 months. She died while on hospice in their home. The couple was devastated.
Erin still remembers how many of the things that were once icons of happiness became very painful reminders of their unfulfilled dreams. The high chair, car seat, walker, stroller and crib sat empty and silent. Gifts that were showered upon them now haunted this young family. But, a glimmer of hope seemed to appear on the horizon almost immediately after their precious daughter had died.. Erin learned that she was pregnant again – this time with twins.
Any mother who has ever lost a child will tell you that the birth of the next child does not eclipse the pain of the child that they have lost. However, it does provide the opportunity for a mother and father to love and nurture a new young life again. In time, it gives grieving parents the hope that they will be able to share the precious stories and legacy of a sibling that the subsequent child may never know. It is a bittersweet experience that is only fully understood by those who have lost an infant child.
In August 2008, Nolan and Calvin, came into the world. These young twin brothers now needed double the child rearing equipment and double the love. Once again friends and family rallied around this young family and provided the extra parenting tools and equipment needed for twins. When the boys were born, there was also a rebirth of hope that Erin and Jeff could get back on track to a normal life, despite the intense pain that remained from the death of Avery.
Just four short months later, their dream turned back into a nightmare – an eerily similar nightmare. Nolan was diagnosed with the very same ALL – Infant Leukemia that had claimed the life of his older sister. What are the odd of this occurring? Sadly, this young family had now made medical history by having the very first set of non-identical twin siblings to ever contract this form of infant cancer. The comforting words of doctors who had assured this young family that it was nearly impossible to face the same medical calamity were simply wrong.
A two month battle with the very same infant leukemia eventually claimed the life of Nolan, just as it had done with his older sister, Avery. At the age of 28, Erin was now burying her second child. Even then, the nightmare was not completely over. Remember, Nolan and Calvin were identical twins. When Nolan contracted the ALL – infant leukemia, it also raised the distinct possibility and odds that Calvin could also acquire this same dreaded disease. Calvin was now considered at risk for this infant cancer.
Doctors informed Erin and Jeff that their only remaining child would need to undergo regular monthly testing and be monitored for signs and symptoms that the young family knew all too well. In past few months this family has had several medical scares with symptoms that were similar to the ill-fated siblings, but to date there has been no sign of the Leukemia in Calvin’s test results. Every testing date leaves Jeff and Erin almost breathless until the results are read by the oncology doctors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
By now, you might think that this young family would simply curl up and want to hide from life. Who could blame them? However, it has often been said that you never want to get between a mother bear and her cubs. The same is true of Erin Curtis. When cruel circumstance simply walked into her life and snatched her beautiful cubs, Erin came out of her den with a fierce determination. She had no intentions of surrendering to fate.
Erin was determined to make a difference in her own life and the life of others around her. She vowed that she would defeat the intentions of these cruel circumstances by helping others. Erin had a dream. She dreamed that she could create a foundation to help other families who were struggling with a chronically or terminally ill child. She could see herself reaching out to families who were walking the very same path that she and Jeff were forced to travel twice. This dream became known as “Erin’s Dream” - friends, family and supporters soon followed.
Erin’s Dream is an energetic group that is dedicated to helping other families who face the nightmares associated with caring for a chronically or terminally ill child. Erin is the very vocal leader of this group of volunteers who have rallied around her cause. This group also has another mission. They are working to help Erin realize her own heartfelt wish to remodel her grandmother’s farmhouse in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania. It has been in the family for more than a century. It will someday be the base of operations for Erin’s Dream Foundation that she clearly envisions.
The Erin’s Dream team managed to raise a few thousand dollars at its first fundraiser in early October 2009. The proceeds from this event were originally intended to help Erin and Jeff’s with their current financial dilemma, medical debt and start funding on her farmhouse renovations. However, Erin heard the story of Adam and Karen Owens.
The Owens family also had a terminally ill child. They live in a second floor apartment in Pottstown and they need to carry their severely ill child up and down two flights of stairs. Gavin’s 300 lb. medical wheelchair which he desperately needs now sits in the hallway at the bottom of a long, steep staircase – unable to aid him or his parents in their home. Gavin’s medical wheelchair sits in a hallway open to daily public use and possible contamination that could cost Gavin his life.
Much of the funds from Erin’s first fundraiser have now been directed into what is being called “Gavin’s Miracle Home Make-Over” which Erin has helped to orchestrate and spearhead for the Owens family. Erin also inspired the acquisition of a single home just outside Boyertown where the family will be able to comfortably tend to the love, care and unique medical needs of their son. Erin said, “I know what it is like to squeeze all of the love and care that you have in your heart for your child into just a few short months of life. I want Adam and Karen to be able to cherish every moment with Gavin without the complications of inadequate housing.”
Randy Doaty, a local real estate agent, had been working with Erin’s Dream on the Schwenksville project. After Erin learned of the Owens family, Doaty found himself searching for a home for Gavin at Erin’s urging. One particular home that was being sold to liquidate an estate caught Erin’s eye and she urged Doaty to talk with the estate about the possibility of Erin’s Dream acquiring this home for Gavin and his family. It appeared to be a long shot because of the limited funds within the estate. But Erin’s perseverance paid off.
On October 1st, the second anniversary of the death of Erin’s daughter Avery, news came that the three sisters who were handling the estate of Alton and Claudette Schmoyer had agreed to offer the home to Erin’s Dream and the Owens family. The offer that Candice, Cindy and Colleen made was better than they could have ever been hoped for. It was simply a huge blessing that set the stage for the Miracle Home Makeover that was about to unfold in the Boyertown community.
A group of local contractors and business people quickly responded to Erin’s cry for help on behalf of the Owens family. A local church and non-profit groups also responded with donations for materials and renovations. In just a matter of weeks, this small cape cod-style home will be completely refurbished and readied for Gavin Owens to finally have a place that he can call home – a place that will allow him to live more comfortably with the medical equipment that has truly handicapped this 3-year old boy and his parents.
Randy Doaty agreed to serve as the MHM project coordinator, along with the help of his daughter, Kristen Weller. Jeff and Erin are also helping to manage the army of volunteers and coordinate the incoming offers to support this effort. “We have a tremendous amount of work to get done in just a few week,” said Doaty. “Every time the Owens family stops by and you see the look on their face, it makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Much of the labor for this project has come from local contractor volunteers. “I know many of these contractors and tradesman are also suffering from the difficult economy”, said Erin. “They are giving their valuable time and talents to help a family that desperately needs this miracle home makeover.” The clock is ticking and an army of people are descending on this small home daily. The Owens family living situation is now reaching the point of impossible and something needs to be done quickly.
Gavin’s Miracle Home Make-Over is supposed to be fully completed by Thanksgiving. The young family hopes that the interior work will be finished in time to for Gavin to have access by early November. Gavin is unable to tolerate dust and dirt so it is essential that the interior is completely finished when the family moves into the home. “This is an incredible Thanksgiving wish come true” says Adam Owens, Gavin’s father. “It just doesn’t seem real to us when we really think about it.”
The Miracle Home Makeover is still in need of financial support. “We needed to move forward quickly without the time to raise the necessary funds for materials.” said Doaty. “This is a real leap of faith. We believe that people in the community will be as generous with financial support as the local contractors have been with their labor.” A host of fundraising events are being planned to offset the costs of materials. You can learn more about ways to support this project at www.erinsdream.org. Erin’s website also provides a link to Gavin’s website.
You can track the progress of this project and see pictures of Jeff, Erin and Calvin at www.erinsdream.org. You will also find pictures and information about Karen, Adam, Gavin and his litter sister Madison through a link at Erin’s website. We hope that you will consider sharing this story with others and send them to these websites to offer their support. If you need additional information or media kits you can contact Kristen Weller at (484) 794-9751 or Erin via e-mail at erin@erinsdream.org
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