1851

Local Keller Williams realtor&nbsp;Nona Armour&nbsp;first met&nbsp;Megan Vess&nbsp;about 4-6 weeks back, she estimates.Right away,&nbsp;Armour says, she noticed the 13-year-old girl is&nbsp;&#8220;just a really strong kid.&#8221;In early 2013,&nbsp;Megan,&nbsp;her mother&nbsp;Amber, her father and three siblings moved from Johnson City, Tenn., to Marion, N.C., into a two-story modular home. The upper floor&nbsp;was unfinished when the family moved in, though they expected to fix it up&nbsp;over time, giving the oldest two girls a space of their own.&#8220;But&nbsp;then Megan got sick, and with the hospital bills and trips to [St. Jude&#8217;s in]&nbsp;Memphis,&#8221; Armour explains, the home-improvement project took a backseat to other priorities.<div>After battling&nbsp;leukemia for more than two&nbsp;years, Megan received her final chemotherapy treatment in March&nbsp;&#8212; a huge victory&nbsp;for the family.<img wp-image-503006="" alignright"="" src="http://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/20150413_112120-720x540.jpg" alt="20150413_112120" width="330" height="247" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; height: auto; display: block; max-width: 100%; float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px !important;" />But as they recovered from a constant state of worry, it became clear that the four&nbsp;Vess children, still sharing&nbsp;a single room, were growing out of their space.Meanwhile, in&nbsp;Asheville, Armour&#8217;s&nbsp;team at Keller Williams was looking for a charitable&nbsp;project&nbsp;for&nbsp;the company&#8217;s &#8220;RED Day,&#8221; a company holiday that&nbsp;encourages all&nbsp;employees, nationally, to &#8220;put down their cell phones, take a couple of hours off and go help somebody in need,&#8221; says Armour.And as local employees were sifting through volunteer opportunities, Armour received&nbsp;a call from Special Spaces, a nonprofit dedicated to giving&nbsp;children with life-threatening illnesses their own&nbsp;&#8220;dream bedroom,&#8221; where they can escape to find peace and comfort.Special Spaces, however, does not have a Western North Carolina&nbsp;chapter &#8212; the call was coming from the nonprofit&#8217;s Tennessee Tri-Cities branch, near the family&#8217;s hometown.<a href="http://mountainx.com/news/local-companies-create-dream-room-for-teen-leukemia-survivor/attachment/20150413_112112/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=local-companies-create-dream-room-for-teen-leukemia-survivor-1643#main" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" rel="attachment wp-att-503007" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3b59b7; text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: color 200ms; transition: color 200ms; background-color: transparent;"><img wp-image-503007="" alignleft"="" src="http://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/20150413_112112-720x540.jpg" alt="20150413_112112" width="372" height="279" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; height: auto; display: block; max-width: 100%; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 15px !important;" /></a>&#8220;They contacted our office because Megan goes&nbsp;to the Johnson City pediatric hospital,&#8221; Armour explains. &#8220;They said, &#8216;We don&#8217;t have anybody&nbsp;[in WNC]&#8221; to take on this project. &#8220;Is this something you&#8217;d be interested in doing for RED&nbsp;Day?'&#8221;Armour called the family and found out they live&nbsp;in Marion. &#8220;That&#8217;s a little out of our district, but I said, &#8216;Let&#8217;s see what we can do.'&#8221;Together with&nbsp;Cindy Stringer&nbsp;andSharon Duncan&nbsp;at Showhomes, a local home-staging company, Armour&nbsp;formed a team of about 15 to give Megan the room of her dreams.&#8220;We&#8217;ve gotten contributions from all over Marion and Asheville to make the room for her,&#8221; Stringer says. &#8220;[Megan] made an account on&nbsp;Pinterest, and pinned&nbsp;ideas [for the room] that she likes. And we&#8217;ve&nbsp;followed through with that.&#8221;<img wp-image-503008="" alignright"="" src="http://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2015050795094315-720x1280.jpg" alt="2015050795094315" width="211" height="375" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; height: auto; display: block; max-width: 100%; float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px !important;" />Getting to know Megan a bit more, Armour says,&nbsp;&#8220;She&#8217;s such a cool&nbsp;kid. She owns her own miniature horse. She&#8217;s quiet, and she likes to read. And she wears this pair of boots everywhere. They nicknamed her &#8216;Boots&#8217; at the hospital.&#8221;Because of her treatment, the young teen&nbsp;has been having problems in her joints, especially in her feet. But &#8220;she told them she wasn&#8217;t going to quit wearing her boots,&#8221; Armour explained.For her room, Megan&#8217;s&nbsp;pins reflected preference&nbsp;for a simple, rustic, country bedroom. Though at&nbsp;first, Stringer explains, &#8220;she wanted both rustic&nbsp;and&nbsp;nautical themes. I said, &#8216;You know,&nbsp;no matter how good we are, those two themes are a&nbsp;tough combination for any designer.'&#8221; Stringer laughs.The 13-year-old&#8217;s list&nbsp;includes&nbsp;rustic barnwood&nbsp;furniture, red paisley bandanna-patterned pillows, denim upholstery and country-style DIY&nbsp;picture frames and collages.One addition that Armour says&nbsp;Megan was most excited for, though, is &#8220;a hanging chair&nbsp;in her window, so she can&nbsp;read and look out to see her miniature horse.&#8221;<img wp-image-503010="" alignleft"="" src="http://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Megan-s-Dream-Haven-page-001-720x540.jpg" alt="Megan s Dream Haven-page-001" width="337" height="252" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; height: auto; display: block; max-width: 100%; float: left; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-right: 15px !important;" />And the team isn&#8217;t just&nbsp;building and designing one room. They&#8217;re designing four: Megan&#8217;s &#8220;haven,&#8221; a room for her older sister, a bathroom and a communal&nbsp;room &#8220;where the family can gather or do their homeschooling,&#8221; Armour says.After one&nbsp;month of planning, painting and perfecting &#8212; and one final day of&nbsp;last-minute hustle, Megan and her family will get to see the&nbsp;room on Thursday, May 14, in &#8220;a&nbsp;big, HGTV-style reveal,&#8221; says Stringer.&#8220;Everything&#8217;s been very simple,&#8221; Armour&nbsp;explains. &#8220;Barnwood and blue jeans and denim and bandanas &#8212; just a&nbsp;simple, rustic look.&nbsp;We have had a few&nbsp;donations, money-wise, and&nbsp;we&#8217;re using that to help furnish her room and pull everything&nbsp;together.&#8221;The volunteers created&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/s4k8/megan-s-haven?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=local-companies-create-dream-room-for-teen-leukemia-survivor-1643" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3b59b7; text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: color 200ms; transition: color 200ms; background-color: transparent;">GiveFoward</a>&nbsp;page, setting the bar high for donations &#8212; at $10,000, &#8220;because we&#8217;re&nbsp;hoping&nbsp;to have some left over to help the&nbsp;family,&#8221; she continues.<img wp-image-503011="" alignright"="" src="http://mountainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Megan-s-Dream-Haven-page-002-720x540.jpg" alt="Megan s Dream Haven-page-002" width="332" height="249" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; height: auto; display: block; max-width: 100%; float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 15px !important;" />And though they&#8217;ve had generous donations from both businesses and individuals, Stringer says the project&nbsp;still needs&nbsp;help&nbsp;in a few key areas. &#8220;It&#8217;s pretty amazing how the community has come together for this,&#8221; she continues. &#8220;Unfortunately, we weren&#8217;t able to finish the drywall in the common room.&#8221; Paying per sheet, plus labor,&nbsp;&#8220;it was just really expensive, and we didn&#8217;t have the money to do it.&#8221; So they&#8217;re hoping&nbsp;to find someone willing to help, either through&nbsp;volunteering (especially for hanging drywall) or donations, she says.Both Stringer and Armour say they&#8217;re excited for the big reveal. &#8220;What better a reason to&nbsp;volunteer?&#8221; Armour asks.&#8220;Megan is very bright, smart, positive girl,&#8221; Stringer adds. &#8220;She&nbsp;loves to read; she loves her horse. The&nbsp;whole family is&nbsp;really just delightful.&#8221;For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/s4k8/megan-s-haven?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=local-companies-create-dream-room-for-teen-leukemia-survivor-1643" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3b59b7; text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition: color 200ms; transition: color 200ms; background-color: transparent;">Megan&#8217;s&nbsp;GiveForward page</a>.</div><div id="mx-ad-premium-banner" style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 670px; margin: 15px 70.59375px 25px auto; overflow: hidden; color: #444444; line-height: 22px;"></div>

1851 Franchise

Thirteen-year-old leukemia survivor Megan Vess gets a "dream room," constructed by Keller Williams and Showhomes WNC

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Local companies create dream room for teen leukemia survivor

local-companies-create-dream-room-for-teen-leukemia-survivor

The Cleaning Authority

Franchise Journal Magazine: The Cleaning Authority Sets the Standard in Residential Cleaning

cleaning-authority-franchise-journal-feature

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Build a Business That Supports Your Lifestyle Goals With TruBlue Home Service Ally Franchise

 trublue-home-service-ally-lifestyle-franchise-success

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Photo of Layne's Chicken Fingers restaurant with "Now Open" inflatable on roof

Layne’s Chicken Fingers Opening Blueprint Drives Success From Day One

franchise-opening-playbook

Right at Home

Veterans, Army, Navy, Right at Home franchisees, Veterans Day

Veterans Excel as Right at Home Franchisees: Here's Why

veterans-in-franchising-right-at-home-success

Why This Corporate McDonald’s Rep Decided To Open His Own Franchise With The Cleaning Authority

kent-lewis-franchise-success

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

houses, Why Top Franchises of 2025 Outperform Independent Businesses

Why the Top Franchises of 2025 Outperform Independent Businesses

how-franchises-outperform-independent-business-2025-tech-data

Photo of Happinest Brands teams standing together in front of branded vehicles

Happinest Brands Continues Strong 2025 Trajectory With Major Q3 Growth and Strategic Wins

happinest-brands-q3-franchise-growth

Franchise Owners Step Up To Support Communities During Government Shutdown - 1851 Franchise

Franchise Owners Step Up To Support Communities During Government Shutdown

franchise-community-support-shutdown

Slim Chickens Opens R&D Center at World Headquarters To Drive Menu Innovation

slim-chickens-rd-center-fayetteville

Nearly 40% of Americans Are Eating Out Less as High Prices Redefine Dining Habits

nearly-40-of-americans-are-eating-out-less-as-high-prices-redefine-dining-habits

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

image  of Happinest franchise collection and all their brands that work together. 

The Happinest Advantage: A Marketing Partner Invested in Your Bottom Line

happinest-franchise-marketing-strategy

Coffee & analytics image with photo of Nick Powills

Athletes And Franchising: Why the Connection Runs Deep

athletes-in-franchising

The Shift From Founder to Franchisor: Building a Team, Culture and System That Scale

the-shift-from-founder-to-franchisor-building-a-team-culture-and-system-that-scale

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

The Panos Family’s Role in Preserving Mellow Mushroom’s Character — and Expanding in Atlanta

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

Local companies create dream room for teen leukemia survivor

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS