MIRACLE MAKEOVER: Elijah to Receive Ninja Chef Bedroom

Try and imagine living your life in a hospital room. Then, think of not eating a meal for three years: no ice cream, no french fries, no gummy worms or chicken tenders. The comfort foods that most 8 year olds love - when sick -- being completely out of reach. Little Elijah has lived this life until very recently.

The Backstory: Jesse and his wife Nakia lost their 13 year old daughter, Essence, to Sickle-Cell Anemia six years ago. Their youngest son Elijah, age 8, has lived at Children's Mercy Hospital for the past several years in a constant fight for his life with the same disease. Their middle son, Isaiah, gave his brother bone marrow for a transplant three years ago. Elijah's body then developed complications and caused greater suffering for him and the family.

Now, Elijah is in remission and can go home for the first time. He has never had a bedroom of his own. Isaiah, his brother, has been living in a toddler room even though he is now a teenager, since his sister died. For the family, grief had stopped the passing of time, that is until now.

Design Gives Back will provide the family with two rooms for these brave brothers that have endured so much. In August, life will take a happy turn for the family as our sponsors and crew design their dreams into a reality. Since Elijah was unable to eat for three years while in the hospital, he now loves food and wants to be a chef when he grows-up. We will make a small restaurant area in his room. He loves Ninja Turtles too and says "they will dine on pizza in my restaurant"....find him in his Ninja mask posted here. His cheeks are plump from steroid medicine, making him extra cute and his smile melts many hearts. Stay tuned for another inspiring makeover from our kind designers, craftspeople, volunteers, and corporate sponsors. It will make you believe that there is goodness in this world, I promise.