BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: Can Color Cure Cancer? A Positive Story & Miracle Makeover

 

UPDATE 10/18/2013: Colette's health has now been pronounced stable! 

                                  *As featured in  Magazine

Colette was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago. She was given a few months to live. This Miracle Makeovertm occurred a short time later. As part of the makeover, Kelee Katillac began working with Colette using color and art therapy. For the past four years Colette has done beautifully and credits her room makeover and the therapy techniques with helping her to survive and thrive. She has even taught the "color method" to other cancer patients. Here is a link to her Pinterest post. To view another recent makeover go here.   

WATCH THE VIDEO FULL SCREEN: You can watch "The Makeover Reveal Video," above, on your full computer screen by clicking on the white asterick icon on the lower right of the video screen. 

TO EMBED THIS VIDEO, SHARE OR EMAIL IT: Click on "Inspired Home/Miracle Makeover in the top left corner -- it will give you Vimeo and you can click and embed there.

          
 

Design Changes Things: When a room is falling apart, and we are also feeling physically or mentally down, it's easy to believe that things are hopeless. For Colette Gauthier, a cancer patient, this was especially true. So, in two and a half days, and on a tiny budget, we set out to change things. Transforming her rental house bedroom from bleak to beautiful helped her through chemotherapy. The restored and renewed space filled her with hope. A visual reminder that healing is possible for our homes and lives....that miracles do happen. For all of Colette's story go to Guideposts Magazine on-line or go to Target or Barnes & Noble for the monthly edition. See the dreary "before" of the room -- and the challenges we faced -- on the reveal video.

 

Yes, the bed you see transformed here, is Colette's hospital bed, shown left. We started with a thrifty wood headboard. After tracing the shape, I cut batting and fabric to upholster the inner edge.Using a stapler I fixed both in place. The edge was finished with trim. The full tutorial is in the Guideposts' feature story. New bead-board cabinets and wainscoting were added to create the "canopy niche," and to establish a cottage feeling. Eric Thomas handmade the charming cabinets.

A New Focal Point: The canopy bed wall is certainly the "design" focal point of the room. However, when you are spending a lot of time in bed, recuperating, the ceiling becomes the literal focal point; where the eyes go most often. And, the ceiling was a patched together mess. We used linen drop cloths and 1" x 6" boards to create a fresh cottage background for Colette's "light of hope."

Photos Copyright Design Gives Back 2011                                   

The Power of Words: The doctor told Colette that she had a 5-15% chance of survival. How dare he! I set-out to replace his negative pronouncement with life affirmations. I asked Colette to list her life values and intentions. We then incorporated them into the design. Watch the process on the makeover reveal video. Thank-you Hobby Lobby for these "positive plaques" that became valances.

Colette and I thank-you, with full hearts, for your kind thoughts, prayers, cards and comments. Readers, we appreciate that you took the time to share this journey with us. Our host bloggers originally brought so many good comments and shined light on this project. Thank-you. Thank-you. All of your positive energy gave us courage and creativity when we needed it the most.  This project would have been impossible without the help from our donors and volunteers. Please note all the credits on the video. A special thank-you to Jennifer Hanson and Theresa Lemke. The two were heaven sent. Thank-you also to the team from Masonic Pathways that helped with the remodel. See our featured volunteers below. 

              

 

 

       

 

HEADBOARD DIY STEPS: Click on photos to enlarge. Pattern making, batting added, fabric and trim. Thank-you Jennifer Hanson for your help demonstrating these steps!

Thank-you to the bloggers and blog hosts that made this possible for Colette.

                                        Visit and read about them HERE.  

The Pink Saturday Blog Event  and Spiritual Sundays Event are happening now.... Thank-you, again, Design Angels for your efforts to help Colette! A special thank-you to Beverly, Sherry, Erin and Charlotte.

Comments

[Desi Jane]

So happy to here Colette is doing well. I would like to know more about Kelee Katillac's color method. Where can I find more?

[Sheila]

Kelee, have I told you today that I love you??? Well, I do!

You're right... how dare that doctor tell her she had so little time! Fooled him, did't she!?!?!?

I'd like to know more about your color therapy. That is just fascinating.

I salute you and the lady you mentioned as well as Colette. This is super!

XO,

Sheila

[Design Gives Back Team]

Hi Friends:

Kelee is releasing a new series of Color Therapy CD's in a month. So, everyone will be able to use the miraculous process!

Thanks for your interest!

DGBTeam --Kelee will be on-line this afternoon!! To visit with you all.

[Joni Cobb, ASID]

MS. Kelee,

This is wonderful. My sister-in-law has bc and needs something positive. This has inspired me to help her and redo her room. I too want to know more about the color therapy.

Thank-you for all the good work you do to change lives!
Fondest,

Joni Cobb ASID

[John R.]

I do believe in art therapy. This is proactive and healing. If you can change a room you can change other things to. I like your attitude and style! So much to take away here.

[Modern Country Lady]

Bless you for being there for a person who really needs help and support!What a gorgeous make-over.I agree with your positive attitude, doctors can be real moaning minnies sometimes- when I think about it, never actually met one that was a life-affirming positive human ..:-)
XOXO
Bea

[Mindy]

Love you! Your work is brilliant. Kelee, you are doing what you were born to do, it is so obvious from your radiance. These stories are so hopeful.

[George's Daughter]

Thank-you for sharing this story. We need as many ways possible to cope with this disease.

It looks like it really helped Collete. She is such a sweet soul and I wish her the best.

Thanks again,

George's Daughter

[Erika]

This is a great make over, very sweet.

[Kimmy]

Design Gives Back Team,

This is a great project! The ideas and therapy are so fresh and a very good idea. Thank-you for all you are doing to make the world better.I would be interested to know more abut the color therapy.
Are there workshops or something?

My Best, Kimmy

P.S. All the HL staff is happy to know you!

[Steph B.]

Congratulations to colette! So beautiful.

[Charlotte]

It's wonderful Colette is doing so well. You really turned her life around. My beautiful Design Angel award arrived yesterday. I was totally surprised and delighted. Thank you so much. It looks so pretty by the angel from last year. My piano provides the perfect place for them. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I posted about the new award on Spiritual Sundays this morning.
Love and blessings,
Charlotte

[Mel @ Trailing After God]

Absolutely beautiful. This is the first time I have been to this site. What an amazing place and gift you are.

[Jeremy]

This is amazing!

[buy spice incense wholesale]

Good to know that the therapy techniques helped her to survive and thrive.

I also think using herbal products for such kind of diseases is also good.

[Valerie]

What a beautiful room! So glad to hear that Colette is doing well. I really enjoyed the video...it made me start looking around my own home...some of my rooms look "sick" ... and we're all healthy. Wondering how much more we could accomplish...how much better we would feel...or motivated we would be if the rooms reflected as such.

[bluecottonmemory]

Beautiful! What a wonderful ministry!

[Joanne Viola]

This is such a beautiful room & more so, a beautiful thing to do for others. I am so glad that I visited here today from Spiritual Sundays. May God continue to bless you as you minister to others!!!