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Nov 15, 2009 11:40 pm US/Central
Boy Gets Help In Cancer Fight With New Room
THE COLONY (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
A 12-year-old from The Colony is getting a boost in his courageous fight against T-cell leukemia.
The
Tony's Room foundation and Medical City of Dallas are putting the finishing touches on a 'clean room' in Kevin Heitman's home.
"I was amazed that they built it for me."
Kevin Heitman dreams of one day playing football and maybe being a scientist. And with the help of this new addition--his own special room--he might get the chance.
"We're trying to fight the time whenever Kevin will be most susceptible to infection" says volunteer Bryan Cerney.
It's much like a hospital clean room, designed to minimize disease exposure while Kevin's immune system is down from cancer therapy.
Charles Heitman Jr. is Kevin's father. "It's very important, it gives him a safe, clean room to go…if one of us gets sick and he's got somewhere safe to be."
Grandfather Charles Sr. sees a higher hand in it. "I think it's a Godsend. I think that by keeping the germs down it just gives him such a better chance to survive."
The bedroom and oversize bathroom have flat surfaces with corners caulked and sealed. There is epoxy paint on the walls and ceilings.
"They can be washed down if need be. The base is a clean, sanitary base. The floor is a seamless flooring" says Cerney
Light comes from overhead 'cans' that won't collect dust. Shelves have sloped tops for the same reason.
Air ducts are cleaned and sealed; the AC itself is industrial grade.
The walls are 6 inches thick; the windows and everything else are sealed in order to keep airborne germs and viruses, outside.
It will all be ready soon and the people who put it together celebrated today. The $60,000 project was funded by Tony's Room with labor donated from people like Cerney.
A sign in the family den sums up Kevin's attitude. "Just that I get better and hopefully I get through it."
And he can't wait to move in.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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