My Happy Haven - North Iowa

04/24/2023

04/21/2023

The weekend has arrived! The My Happy Place trailer is full and we're headed to Easton, MN to do a bedroom makeover for Melissa! WE'RE IN NEED OF A COUPLE OF MEN to help unload some furniture tomorrow (Saturday) morning around 9-10am. Please comment here if you can help. Thanks.

03/27/2023

The Love of a family is life’s greatest blessing”

A beautiful Sunday evening was had as Carol Olinger was able to return home after a long weekend away. Designer, Katie Klemesrud, was honored to greet Carol as she opened the doors to her new bedroom retreat along with her husband, family, and community of support at her side.

All who were blessed to get to know Carol and her husband Ellery, while working on the room, were shown the love they have for each other and the love they have poured into their family. They are the epitome of family morals we all look for in our own personal life journeys.

Being hit with such tragic news, like Carol has recently received, is a reminder to all of us just how precious life is and to never take a single moment for granted.

A special thanks to all who contributed to make this room a reality.
From our recurring financial sponsors to the those who contribute their valued time, you are appreciated.

PPG Paints - Paint donation

Eileen Miller - our painter extraordinaire

Leon Christianson, Christianson Interiors - Carpet/installation- Your endless support is more appreciated than we could ever put into words.

Eric Suby, Love & Luck Photography - Thank you for accommodating your busy schedule to make sure you could capture the first awe-dropping moments.

Barb & Ron Rice- Custom built frame

River City Glass, Shane Servantez- donation of a glass piece

Matt with Linahon Electric Inc, - Donating his expertise and being flexible to our schedule.

Furniture Mattress Outlet - Discount Furniture along with your forever commitment to our mission.

Jack Klemesrud- Custom-built barn doors. Serving others comes naturally to you. You never can pass up an opportunity to help others. Your love for others is always above and beyond expectations.

Wendy Martinez, "Wendy's Million Little Totes" - Provides a beautiful bag to the women we serve

Ken Akers, Midwest Sleep LLC - Mattress donation

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS:
Jane Fischer, Jane Fischer & Associates LLC
Gary Kiefer
Mary Jo Keenan
Angela Dickinson

On behalf of the My Happy Place team:
Thank you to all that showed your love and support to Carol today, yesterday and the days ahead. Together you have shown, “Not every day is great, but there is something great in every day”.

FYI from My Happy Haven: My Happy Haven will now be under the name My Happy Place, and MHP will now offer "special spaces" for men, women and children with a serious health diagnosis. https://myhappyplaces.org/nomination-form/

03/25/2023

FYI: Carol's REVEAL will now be Sunday at 6 pm.

03/15/2023

03/11/2023

Introducing our newest recipient of a bedroom makeover, Carol Olinger of Clear Lake. Carol's Reveal is scheduled for Sun. afternoon, Mar. 26th @ 5pm. Designer, Katie Klemesrud, is drumming up exciting changes for Carol's room and we know the final product will provide the beautiful, healing environment Carol needs.

If you are moved by what we do and can help support Carol's bedroom makeover with a donation of any size, it would be greatly appreciated. Please donate here: https://myhappyplaces.org/donations/donate-to-carol-olingers-bedroom-makeover/

In Carol's own words... Never did I think I would be a recipient of a bedroom makeover, although I can assure you that our room definitely could use it! Because of that, I think my "dream team", led by Katie Klemesrud, has her work cut out for her. My oldest granddaughter, Lauren, was kind enough to nominate me and for that I am so grateful.

I was diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukemia) in June of 22, and life has never been the same. As anybody with cancer will tell you, it can be completely overwhelming. You go through so many emotions simultaneously.

AML is a disease of the blood and the bone marrow that interferes with normal white and red blood cells and platelets. I do 5 days of chemo drip at the Cancer Center in Mason City and cancer pills at home 21 to 14 days, depending. I then have a rest period of 7 to 14 days before I start the next cycle. I go to Mayo Clinic after each cycle to have bone marrow biopsies and doctor visits. My weekly labs and doctor appts are done in Mason City. Because AML is an auto-immune disease, I try to be careful and wear a mask when there is a doubt of sickness or infection.

AML is curable, but you can go into remission for a period of time and then have a relapse where you may have to come up with another game plan and try something new.

I am fortunate to have my hero husband of 55 years, my amazing daughter and son and their families, because without their support, I would not be able to manage this on my own. They are such a blessing, along with an awesome brother and sister, some fantastic cousins and some of the best friends on this earth! I had never heard of My Happy Haven before now, but now that I have, I can only tell you that I have never seen a group more willing to pay it forward. From Katie Klemesrud and her husband Jack, and the other talented designers, to the volunteer painters and workers, to the businesses and stores that contribute, I am in awe and feel truly blessed. I too will be doing my best to pay it forward in whatever way I can. This is really much more than a bedroom makeover. It renews my spirit and hope for the future.

02/27/2023

Support My Happy Place while dining at Applebee's tomorrow, Tues. Feb. 28th between 11am - 11pm. When you select from a limited menu, 50% of the proceeds will go to our organization. Don't have the time to dine in...order TO GO! Thank you, Applebee's Grill + Bar, for supporting local non-profits!

02/26/2023

My Happy Haven will be traveling to Easton, MN to do a bedroom makeover for Melissa Haugh. Because Easton is outside of the area we serve, the money needed for the makeover had to be raised in that community. By sharing the post with friends and family, the money was raised, and our designer, Jill Buckman, is busy planning the perfect haven for Melissa and her husband, Jeremy. The bedroom Reveal is scheduled for Sunday, April 23rd @ 1pm.

My Happy Haven is about community coming together and we want you involved! If you can help by donating, discounting or helping with any of the following, please comment below.

PHOTOGRAPHER - to capture the Reveal - Maddie’s Moments Photography has offered! Thank you!
PAINT - will need (2) gallons - thank you Deb Steinhauer & friends
PAINTER(S): preferably paint on Friday afternoon, Apr. 21. thank you Deb Steinhauer & friends
CARPET LAYER: Adam Kopesky, Rickway Carpet, North Mankato has graciously offered. Thank you, Adam!
CAKE OR CUPCAKES for the Reveal - Lacey's Catering has graciously offered! Thank you!
VOLUNTEERS: always appreciate volunteers to help assemble, lend a hand, or even help with cleanup.

Melissa's story in her own words:

My story started with a lump that I detected in my right breast. It wasn’t something I was too worried about but did get it checked out at my annual doctor’s appointment. My doctor was convinced it wasn’t normal so recommended I get a mammogram and ultrasound to rule on the side of caution. I was diagnosed with breast cancer (DCIS grade 3) on June 24, 2022, at the age of 37. It was an absolute shock to my world as I had never had a mammogram and there was no familial history. I visited with a couple surgeons and finally went with Piper Breast Center at Abbott in Minneapolis. I underwent surgery for a single mastectomy in August. During surgery, they injected a dye to trace the lymph nodes and turns out I’m severely allergic to that dye. So allergic that I went into anaphylactic shock and quit breathing. I spent the next day and a half in the ICU to recover. They ended up finishing the surgery a day later and were unable to remove any lymph nodes. After surgery I was told my cancer was Her2+ and it was micro-invasive and since they didn’t know my lymph node status due to my allergy to the dye, they recommended I do chemotherapy for 12 rounds and then a year of antibody treatments. I started chemotherapy on September 26, 2022, and finished in December. I’m currently going every three weeks to receive my antibody infusions for 14 rounds.

I am married to my husband, Jeremy and we have three boys, Mason (13), Carter (11) and Rylan (7). I’m a School Social Worker and am thankful that I’ve been well enough to keep working with my amazing students and coworkers. As a family, we stay busy with lots of sporting activities and enjoy spending time with each other.

Thank you so much to Dara Getchell for nominating me for the bedroom makeover and to all the Happy Haven staff who have been so wonderful. I am truly grateful and blessed. Cancer is the absolute worst, but it has shown me that I have so much to be thankful for.

If you'd like to donate to Melissa's room, it's not too late.
https://myhappyplaces.org/donations/donate-to-melissa-haughs-bedroom-makeover-today/

02/20/2023

👉🏼 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH 👈🏼
Please join us next Tuesday where we will be hosting My Happy Place - Mason City for our Together We Care fundraiser! Half the proceeds that day from the items below will go to their fantastic organization! Dine in or order to-go that day to show your support! 😊