Kaszmeir was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or COPD) in September 2018. COPD is a chronic, life-threatening lung disease that compromises her lung function. The condition is rarely seen in someone so young. The Mayo Clinic says most people are at least 35 to 40 years old when they experience the first symptoms of COPD.

A Need to Help Those in Need

Constant breathing tests, blood work, X-rays, and medication are the new normal for Kaszmeir. She also needs an oxygen tank by her side 24/7 to help her breathe. Because of this, she spends a lot of time at home – and like most teens, in her bedroom.

“When we first heard about Kaszmeir’s wish, we immediately wanted to help,” says Doug Gauert, owner of Closets by Design of Milwaukee. “She is struggling with a difficult disease. We knew we could design something to make her happier and more comfortable at home.”

Gauert and his team went right to work. The Closets by Design team installed not one but two closets in the small home where Kaszmeir lives with her grandmother, a sister, an uncle and a cousin. The room was then decorated with vintage pieces that Kaszmeir helped pick out.

A Custom Closet to Bring Paris Home

“This doesn’t even look like my room,” exclaimed Kaszmeir when she walked into her new Parisian themed bedroom for the first time. “I’m truly stunned. Everything is perfect.”

Kaszmeir loves history, old-school music and reading. Her favorite movie stars are Julie Andrews, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. She enjoys watching “Casablanca” and episodes of “I Love Lucy.” Since Kaszmeir is a bit of an “old soul” and has very particular tastes, the old-fashioned Parisian style room compliments her favorite things.

Supporting Family for their Sacrifices

Closets by Design also surprised Kaszmeir’s grandmother with a new closet. The surprise was to honor all the sacrifices she has made for her granddaughter.

“It’s very important to me personally to give back to my community. I’m proud of my team at Closets by Design for all their hard work on this project,” adds Gauert. “Also, the look on Kaszmeir’s face when she saw her room for the first time will forever be imprinted in my heart.”

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Meet an Inspiring Spirit

When we first heard about Jenna’s wish for a new closet, we knew we had to make it come true. The courageous seven-year-old girl was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (type 2) when she was only 18 months old. The disease is characterized by progressive muscle weakness that has left Jenna with limited arm strength and almost no leg strength. Her diagnosis also comes with its own regular battery of tests. In addition to blood work, Jenna also receives spinal tap injections. These injections are part of a drug trial to further slow down the progression of her disease.

Of course, Jenna is far too tough to let her disease slow her down. This vibrant girl enjoys an active life and brightens up the room wherever she goes. Jenna has plenty of friends and is active in playing wheelchair soccer. When she isn’t busy zooming across the court, she uses her power wheelchair to zip through her family’s home. But even with her tenacity, Jenna’s life isn’t without its struggles.

Creating Independence Through Custom Closets

Because of her disease, Jenna is unable to move freely around her room. She is even unable to reach the clothes in her closet. Her wish, to the surprise of everyone, was for a custom closet makeover. All Jenna wanted was to reach and pick out her own outfits without the help of anyone else. Her mother was surprised she didn’t ask for a horse or a dog, but all Jenna wanted was to be independent.

Closets by Design in St. Louis went right to work. Our team installed a complete custom closet as part of her room makeover that was designed for maximum accessibility. With pull-down rods and custom shelving, everything in Jenna’s closet is now within arm’s reach. Today, she is putting together her own outfits and picking out her clothes for school all on her own. It’s Jenna’s unstoppable spirit that makes her such a force to be reckoned with, we’re just happy to have had a part in helping her along the way.

Sharing Jenna’s Inspiring Story with the World

Our work with Make-A-Wish was documented by 919 Marketing, a national content marketing agency in North Carolina, to share Jenna’s story with the world. Jenna was an absolute joy to work with. She is easily one of the most incredible people we’ve ever met. In fact, we have a hard time watching the video without tearing up with joy. We were just so happy to make Jenna’s wish come true, but we couldn’t believe what happened next.

The powerful video of Jenna’s closet transformation went far beyond even our wildest dreams. The story of Jenna’s independence was so impactful and affecting that it earned a coveted award. The Telly Awards are a prestigious honor that recognize excellence in the world of video and television. Our work with Jenna took home a Bronze Telly Award in the General-Public Relations for Non-Broadcast category. Working with Jenna and her wonderful family was so fulfilling, but we’re beyond thrilled to see her inspiring story reach an even wider audience.

Making Dreams Come True, One Closet at a Time

Our dedication to dreamers is never done. The experience of teaming up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation was so positive and encouraging that we can’t wait for the next opportunity to make someone’s dreams come true. Schedule your free, in-home consultation to know more about what we did for Jenna, and how we can do the same for you and your family.

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