Story behind the nonprofit
In November of 2016 something just didn’t seem right with Jeff and Tatum’s two year old daughter, Teagan. Her balance seemed to be off and she began puking up bile, only at night. What started as a concern related to nasal drip or acid reflux quickly proved to be very serious. A day after her 2nd birthday, she was admitted to Seattle Children’s hospital as symptoms were worsening. Within 45 minutes of being admitted, they learned their daughter had medulloblastoma (brain cancer), and only a series of miracles would save her.
After four brain surgeries, six months of chemotherapy, 3 stem cell transplants, 30 sessions of proton radiation to her baby brain under daily anesthesia, placement of a shunt (brain drain), many sleepless nights, buckets of tears, and an endless amount of hope….Teagan is alive and figuring out life as a nine year old today. Yes, there are many more bumps, bruises, and scars than most nine year olds endure but this does not stop her from fully enjoying life to the fullest.
Prior to their daughter being diagnosed with brain cancer, this family had dreamed of purchasing land and building a vacation home in Suncadia. These plans understandably got sidelined while their daughter was in cancer treatment and following. Thankfully once the family got home and treatment was finished, they were able to pick back up their dreams even more passionately with a clearer understanding of the preciousness of life and a clearer vision of their home they wanted to build to make memories together as a family.
Upon closing on their Suncadia Home Site, the Fettig’s started thinking, what if they could design a home that was fully accessible and safe for Teagan so she could move independently throughout the entire house while enjoying time with her family. Furthermore, they noticed while traveling, the challenge in finding vacation homes which were accessible for their daughter who uses a walker, forearm crutches, and a wheelchair and powerchair for independent mobility post tumor resection. This began the wheels turning of the nonprofit and how it could support other families, similar to theirs with kids with disabilities, as well as adults with disabilities, get long needed rest and respite from the demands of advocating, addressing the many barriers that unexpectedly pop up, and for parents also to get respite and rest in their vacation home. The Fettig’s dream has come true of building an accessible, kid friendly home available for families who have children with medical complexity as well as architectural and financial barriers.
Together the nonprofit is partnering to make these get-away vacations accessible and put intentional planning and thought into these get away vacation stays to help provide rest, rejuvenation, and connection to the larger community in a way that simply does not yet exist.