Local businesses, contractors construct dream treehouse for child battling cancer By Will Houston whouston@times-standard @Will_S_Houston on Twitter Posted: 07/06/2014 04:43:57 PM PDT0 Comments | Updated: 72 min. ago Standing between two trees in his backyard, an 8-year-old Bayside boy battling acute lymphoid leukemia envisioned a grand treehouse that kids, dogs and grandmas — but no parents — could call their own domain for playing games, having sleepovers or just hanging out. After the Humboldt County chapter of the Make-A-Wish foundation received word of Kaden Packers wish, a group of local businesses and individuals came together and made his vision into a reality. After six weeks of construction in May and June, Packer watched as the two-story, cedar Victorian-style treehouse complete with decks, a slide, fire pole, an upstairs bedroom and a game room sprouted up before his eyes. Its awesome, Packer said. First diagnosed with leukemia nearly one year ago, Packer — now 9 years old — is currently in remission. His parents, Rachel and Jordan Packer, have been making the trek down to Stanford Universitys Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital in Palo Alto almost every 10 days where Kaden has received treatment over the last year. Around the Fourth of July marks the anniversary of when we got the diagnosis, Rachel Packer said. I went with him kind of in denial and not expecting that. The doctors there said, You should move in, youre going to be in the hospital for the next month doing intensive treatment. Rachel Packer said she and her husband feared the worst initially, but after being informed that there is a 95 percent cure rate for childhood leukemia, she said a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. At the suggestion of a social worker, Rachel Packer said the family decided to inform the local Make-A-Wish chapter about Kadens fight, reluctantly at first. I thought that it wouldnt be right, because he was in remission and hes not that sick anymore, Rachel Packer said. Volunteer wish granter Deni MacFarland of Make-A-Wish said that is one of the biggest misconceptions of the foundation. A lot of people see Make-A-Wish as a program only for children with terminal illnesses, Deni McFarland said. Its important that people understand that its not just terminal illness, but also children with life-threatening illnesses as well. The countys Make-A-Wish chapter is a part of the larger Greater Bay Area chapter of the foundation. Deni McFarland said the county chapter normally grants about 10 wishes to local children each year, but that number has since doubled over the last few years. Weve gotten a lot of kids on the North Coast, she said. We like to get the word out so we can give something to these kids. Thats probably the best part about it is seeing the smiles on their faces. When Kaden Packer heard about his wish opportunity, he and his grandmother began designing what would become his very own treehouse. As to why he decided on a treehouse over any other wish, Kaden replied, Because it will last forever. With her husband John McFarland working with some local contractors and carpenters to build the recently expanded Fieldbrook Firehouse, Deni McFarland asked carpenter Gene Callahan of Black Oak Construction in McKinleyville if he was up for another job. After looking at Kaden Packers designs for the treetop home, Callahan drafted some of his own, keeping in as much of the original ideas in as possible. Since John and I became good friends working at the firehouse, this just seemed like a natural thing to do later, Callahan said, standing on the deck of the treehouse. Ive been a carpenter for my whole life, I just took (Kadens) plans and designed what I thought would be practical. With a custom two-story structure to build, many supplies were needed, but Callahan said several local businesses were more than eager to lend a hand. It sort of evolved, Callahan said. Every time we went to someone and told them we were doing a Make-A-Wish treehouse, everyone just wanted to jump in and help. In the end, everything from the treehouses wood framing to the metal fire pole were donated, and all that was left to find were the carpenters to craft Kadens wish. Gathering a group of six other workers whose professions ranged from a computer scientist to fire fighting, Callahan was able to complete the project in about six weeks with a ribbon cutting ceremony being held in early June. Callahan said the average age of the carpenters working on the treehouse was about 66 years, prompting them to name themselves the antediluvian (before the biblical flood) carpenters guild. We worked on the Ark as our first project, John McFarland said, laughing. During the construction period, John McFarland said Kaden Packer would come outside to see how progress was going. He would come down the trail and stand here and look, John McFarland said standing in the front of the treehouse with his hands on his hips. Then hed go back to the house and come back with a broom and go up and sweep it all down. Callahan said seeing Kadens and his siblings excitement over the progress being made was what kept us going. Jordan Packer said the Eureka restaurant Mikes Drive-Up that neighbors his shop also contributed to Kadens recovery by collecting donations and selling T-shirts. That really helped us with our driving expenses and helped us to go see a movie while we were there to make the trip fun, Jordan Packer said. We were going out there every ten days, thats a lot of driving. But Kaden became a little trucker. Hes made it really easy on us. Since the treehouse was constructed, Kaden Packer said hes had a lot of people over to play in it and, being a good older, also plays there with his younger sister Bellagrace, 7, and younger brother Avery, 5. While one of the rules of the treehouse is no parents allowed, Jordan Packer said he has received an invite from his son for a sleepover. Throughout the next few years, Kaden Packer will continue his cancer treatment, but now has place of his own to return to every time he returns home. Its important that people know about these kinds of programs, because it inspires a lot of hope, Rachel Packer said. Kaden has been amazing. Hes been so brave. Whenever we had an appointment, Kaden was just brave and showed up and did what he had to do to get the treatment. Will Houston can be reached at 707-441-0504.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 02:36:27 +0000
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