Home makeover to ease plight of blind girl's family

By LAUREN SCRUDATO

lscrudato@njherald.com

VERNON -- Four-year-old Emily Bott has endured about 20 eye surgeries since she was born blind. But things at home will be a bit brighter for her and her family after a remodeling project to be provided by Dream Room Makeovers.

The New Jersey organization with a concept similar to the television show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," chose the Bott family for its third project and will tackle a one-day house renovation project July 14.

The last four years for the Bott family have been a whirlwind of struggle and emotion. Emily, who is Jennifer and Jason Bott's youngest child, now 41/2, was born blind due to a rare disease called Peters anomaly that caused her to need corneal transplants in both eyes within the first five months of her life. At first, the transplants prevented Emily from going permanently blind, and she was able to function like any other child her age. However, complications developed, including an additional diagnosis of pediatric glaucoma, and the transplants had to be removed and replaced.

In March, the family continued to face hardships with Emily's condition and they needed something good to happen. They applied to Dream Room Makeovers, and in April, a day before Emily was scheduled for yet another surgery, they were told they had been chosen.

At that point, Emily had lost all vision in her left eye because her retina had torn and detached. Surgery to re-attach it had only a 30 percent chance of success. Ultimately, the tear was too severe for Emily to regain sight in her left eye. She still has partial vision in her right eye.

Robert Stern, founder and president of Dream Room Makeovers, met with Emily and her family to determine her interests in order to "dream out" her room, as Stern calls it. Emily loves bright colors and provided Stern with a broad spectrum of paint options for her bedroom, from purple and pink to green and red. She is also a fan of Disney princesses and Mickey Mouse.

Outside of Dream Room Makeovers, Stern is a real estate agent, which he said helps him come up with design ideas.

The Botts won't know the outcome of the makeover until it is unveiled to them on July 14. Stern will send the Botts, including sons Matthew, 9, and Tyler, 7, on a day-long vacation to an unknown location to keep everything a surprise. The rest of the house, including the boys' rooms, will get a makeover as well.

See the original post here:
Home makeover to ease plight of blind girl's family