Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Special Spaces creates dream bedrooms for kids fighting cancer

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Special Spaces is a nonprofit organization that does dream bedroom makeovers for kids fighting cancer. They've been redoing bedrooms in Wisconsin for 14 years.

But the project they wrapped up last month was a first, and that makes this reveal even more special. 

After two days of hard work, it's time for the finishing touches.

Volunteers from Hydrite Chemicals are carefully hanging the art, touching up paint and making up the bunk beds.

"Anything else while I'm up here?" a volunteer asks from the top bunk.

"It's been nuts, but very fun," said Special Spaces Director Cindy Thota. 

It's finally time.

"One, two, three," the kids count, knocking on their bedroom door.

"Come in!" the volunteers call.

The Aguirre family gets to see the big reveal.

"You're speechless," Thota said to the boys, William, five, and Elliott, who just turned three.

The brothers take in all of the things in their brand-new bedroom.

"They were very specific that they wanted dinosaurs, volcanos, pizza, and matchbox cars," Thota said.

Thota and her team from Special Spaces delivered.

"T-Rex!" yelled Elliott, holding up a new stuffie. 

William immediately hit the floor to play with those new cars. And after the last six months the Aguirre family has had, they deserve something to be excited about.

"It was horrible. It was absolutely horrible," said their mom, Shelley Aguirre. "Well, our doctor said that they've never had two siblings on the same day."

Back in September, William and Elliott were both diagnosed with cancer.

"It was just a normal annual checkup at their pediatrician," Aguirre said.

"I've never done this, in my whole time being with Special Spaces, that both children had cancer," Thota said.

So, this project added a little extra.

"Ahhhhh!" yelled the boys' sister, Charlotte, as she saw her room for the first time.

The team refreshed her bedroom, too.

"She's been such a good sister," Aguirre said.

Taylor Swift and gymnastics are her themes.

"I think when you have a child with cancer, nothing else gets done. And I think all of your day is spent on treatment plans, being in the hospital and keeping them safe," Thota said, of why these makeovers are so impactful.

That's what Special Spaces is all about, making sure kids have a safe place to heal.

"It's like a community hug, think about it that way," Thota added.

And from the looks on these faces, the bedroom makeovers are a success. A space where they can just be kids. 

"I love it," exclaimed Charlotte. 

"It's the best, because it gives you purpose and you feel like you're making a difference every day that you go into somebody's house," Thota said.

Special Spaces is on track to remake 62 bedrooms in Wisconsin this year. If you'd like to help, or know a child battling cancer, you can find more here.

As for the boys, Elliott had surgery to remove a tumor. He's doing well. William is being treated right now for leukemia.

If you'd like to nominate an everyday hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].