A Home Built for Sunnie: Helping One Little Girl Thrive
The Bell Family
We are the Bell family from southwest Missouri. We are parents to five beautiful daughters, and this property drew us in, and the home has treated us well. It is where birthdays are celebrated, sisters play together, and memories are made.
But after our youngest daughter, Sunnie, was born with complex medical needs, our home suddenly became something moreāit became a hospital room, therapy clinic, medical supply center, and the place where we fight every single day to help our daughter live the fullest life possible.
Our greatest wish is simple: to make our home safe, accessible, and functional so Sunnie can continue to grow surrounded by the people who love her most.
Meet Sunnie
Sunnie entered the world after a placental abruption that resulted in a brain injury. Since birth, she has overcome challenges that most people cannot imagine.
She lives with cerebral palsy, chronic respiratory insufficiency, and a 22q11.2 duplication. She depends on a GJ feeding tube for all nutrition and requires oxygen, frequent suctioning, breathing treatments, therapies, and specialized medical equipment every day.
Despite everything she has endured, Sunnie is full of light. She teaches our family courage, patience, and joy in the smallest victories.
Her four sisters adore her, and every milestoneāno matter how smallāis celebrated by our entire family.
Why Our Home Needs to Change
As Sunnie grows, so do her medical and accessibility needs.
Our current home was never designed for a child who depends on medical equipment and adaptive devices.
We are quickly running out of space for:
Respiratory equipment
Feeding supplies
Therapy equipment
Mobility devices
Daily medical care
Simple tasks such as bathing, moving equipment, and completing therapies have become increasingly difficult.
Without modifications, meeting Sunnie's needs safely will only become more challenging as she grows.
Our Dream
We hope to create a home where Sunnie can safely grow for years to come by adding:
An accessible bedroom with space for medical equipment and therapies
A wheelchair-accessible bathroom with a roll-in shower
Ramps for safe access into our home
Storage for medical supplies and equipment
Space where therapists can work with Sunnie comfortably and safely
Closing off the existing square footage in an unused garage space next to her current space, which would require removal of garage door and sealing that exterior wall.
These changes would not only improve Sunnie's quality of life but would also make daily caregiving safer and more manageable for our entire family as well as nurses in the home.
Making Every Dollar Count
One blessing in the middle of this journey is that my husband owns a construction and remodeling company.
Because of his experience, we are able to obtain many materials at contractor pricing. But due to his back issues, he would contract the majority of the work out to trusted individuals.
This means every donated dollar can stretch significantly further, allowing more of the project to go directly toward the accessibility modifications Sunnie needs.
Looking Toward the Future
Our immediate priority is creating a home that meets Sunnie's medical needs.
As she grows, we also hope to pursue additional therapies and treatments that may improve her quality of life and independence.
By creating an accessible home now, we can provide her with the safest possible environment while continuing to explore every opportunity that may help her thrive.
How You Can Help
Whether through financial support, donated materials, skilled labor, sharing our story, or simply keeping our family in your prayers, every act of kindness helps us move one step closer to giving Sunnie the home she deserves.
Thank you for believing that every child deserves a safe place to grow, heal, and flourish.
With gratitude,
The Bell Family
***note from Emily regarding fundraising goal: While my husband owns a construction and remodeling company and has the knowledge and experience to help guide this project, ongoing back problems mean he isn't physically able to take on a renovation of this size himself. Instead, he'll be able to use his experience and relationships in the industry to help us plan the project carefully, source materials as affordably as possible, and entrust the work to people he knows and trusts.
Our initial fundraising goal is $50,000. We know that is a significant amount of money, but creating truly accessible spaces involves much more than cosmetic remodeling. Funds will go toward expanding Sunnie's bedroom and medical-care space, creating an accessible bathroom and bathing area, providing room for her therapy and equipment, improving access between our home and driveway, and covering the plumbing, electrical, HVAC, materials and labor necessary to make these changes possible.
If we're blessed to exceed our initial goal, additional funds will allow us to complete more of the accessibility improvements Sunnie will need as she grows. We plan to share updates throughout the process so everyone who supports Sunnie can see exactly what their generosity is helping build.
THANKS AGAIN!
