Allison, a Brewster child being treated for cancer at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, has a bright new bedroom designed around her personality and what she loves, thanks to a volunteer team from the Westchester office of Consigli Construction Co. and Circle of Care for families of children with cancer’s Art From the Heart program.
Allison’s family wanted her to have a safe, comfortable place to play, relax, and enjoy her stuffed animals, dress-up, makeup, and other favorite things. Working with Allison and her family, the Consigli team set out to create a room that felt distinctly hers while using the space thoughtfully.
A lofted bunk bed added both a fun place to climb and plenty of storage, while coordinating furniture gave Allison’s favorite things their own places. Pink and flowery details, sparkles, a rollaway desk with twinkling lights, and a bright new light fixture completed the transformation.
“The challenge was figuring out how to fit everything into a child-sized room while still giving Allison a place to call her own and play,” said Jessica Prichard of Consigli Construction, who led the volunteer team. “She has such a lively personality and so much energy. We wanted the room to feel like her.”
When it was time for the reveal, Allison took her parents’ hands and walked into her new room. She began exploring and, before long, was jumping around on her new bunk bed.
“Once she saw the extent of everything in the room, she was so excited,” said Adriana Gambino Cain of Consigli Construction. “Her parents told us the makeover was a dream come true for her and more than they ever could have hoped for.”
Circle of Care’s Art From the Heart program creates personalized room makeovers for children with cancer, bringing together families, volunteers and community partners to create spaces at home designed around each child’s personality, interests and needs. Circle of Care works with pediatric oncology teams at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital to support children with cancer and their families with practical, emotional and financial assistance throughout treatment and beyond.
For Gambino Cain, working with Allison and her family, also offered a window into an important part of the childhood cancer journey: even as children undergo difficult treatment, they continue to grow, play, and pursue the interests that make them who they are.
“Although treatment is harsh and challenging, the child involved carries on with life and all of their interests,” Gambino Cain said. “Normal life activities still happen.”
A Consigli Construction volunteer team led by Prichard completed the project, with support from Gambino Cain, Mike Henrici, Claudia Castro, Kate Albano, Lizzie Allan, Bill Allan, Kevin Dingee and John Curran, and guidance from Circle of Care Programs Director Tammi Small.
For Allison, the result is a soft pink room filled with the things she loves and, most importantly, a space of her own to simply be a kid.
