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In a wooded North Branch neighborhood of recently-built suburban family homes clad in earth tone exteriors;  it’s impossible to miss the blindingly white English cottage, complete with dormers, pink trim and flower boxes bursting with blooms.   

It may be just a tenth the size of the surrounding buildings,  but what it stands for is  huge.  This playhouse, for Grace Grams, who turns five at the end of this month, was made possible thanks to a community of people drawn to do something good for a family that has endured a tough time.

Grace’s dad Reggie said she was one year old when she became very lethargic for days, so they went into urgent care.  Grace’s diagnosis ultimately landed on B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. They started care at Children’s in St Paul and  shifted to Children’s specialists in Minneapolis.  

Grace underwent about two and a half years years of  chemical and steroid treatments that ended in February.  Reggie recalls that this was all happening as medical facilities were being slammed caring for covid-19 patients.   Her father said after all the family has been through the last few years;  last Saturday, presenting the playhouse to Grace, is going to be a very special day to remember.

As Grace became a regular at Children’s Hospital oncology department,  her father said staff mentioned that a charitable group, Wishes & More,   MN was interested in finding out about her and doing a project or providing an experience to brighten her day.

The playhouse was Grace’s choice.  She knew it was coming— she just didn’t know when.  The day before last Saturday’s reveal she and her mom stayed at camping land the family has in Wisconsin, while volunteers from the remodel/design company, Vujovich, put up the house. Neighbors have been supportive all along and had pizza delivered Saturday for the work team.  

“Invite a Unicorn”  a Ham Lake special events enterprise, arrived towing a horse trailer with a sparkly unicorn inside, who would lend some drama to the reveal. In a ‘small world’ moment the handler shared that his best friend while growing up in the east metro area,  was the first ever recipient of a request granted through Wishes & More

Wishes & More representative Laura Daily said they can have as many as 100 plans coming together at any given time. It is hectic but rewarding work, and she added that everybody’s hope is that Grace will love and use the playhouse for years to come.

Grace’s mother Christina describes her daughter as a “homebody, who is happiest around familiar friends or at home and in her yard.”  True to form within minutes she was throwing a pretend tea party and hostessing in her new digs.
           
FYI...
Wishes & More is no stranger to Chisago County. This Saturday, May 21, there’s a walleye fishing tourney fundraiser on Rush Lake, for the Maddy Nelson Memorial Foundation.  Stop by The Grumpy Minnow, Stanchfield,  and have something off the dinner menu and support the auction.  Sorry, but the tournament slots are all taken.

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