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Giving BACk

January 30th, 2008 will be a date the Hartman Family will never forget.  It was on that date that 5 year old, normally rambunctious Giovanni Hartman was taken to the family pediatrician for what had been suspected by his parents to be a simple case of anemia.  Suzanna and Bret Hartman had noticed that in the previous weeks Giovanni had grown pale and had very little appetite and no energy. With this trip to the doctor, and after many tests, Giovanni’s pediatrician diagnosed him with leukemia.  The lives of the Hartman family were forever changed.
   It was in preparation for their second child (months before Giovanni’s diagnosis) that Bret and Suzanna had begun a flooring remodel of their home in the North Valleys.  Suzanna Hartman was 21 weeks pregnant and struggled to find the joy in her pregnancy while facing Giovanni’s recently diagnosed leukemia and the state of their home. 
   For weeks, the family home had been turned into a “construction zone”, which in his condition placed Giovanni in danger.  With Giovanni’s fragile state and suppressed immune system, his parents made the difficult decision to move out of their home and into that of Suzanna’s mother. 
   As Giovanni’s treatment began and medical bills began to mount, it became increasingly clear that Bret and Suzanna would not have the time or the finances to complete their remodeling project and move their new little patient home to his own room, his own toys, and all that was familiar.  Giovanni had planned to help mom and dad decorate the bedroom of his impending sibling, “Isabella” as she was already being called.  But now, all of these happy plans seemed to be just out of reach for the Hartman Family.
   It was then that Suzanna, an employee at Lennar Homes, a “Builder” member of the Builders Association of Northern Nevada, phoned the Builders Association Charity.  After several conversations, Joe Lopez, the charity’s President, enlisted the help of “Associate” member Bob Dallas at Creative Touch Interiors. The Charity, with the help of “Hero” subcontractors like Bob Dallas, was able to complete the remodel free of charge to the Hartman Family.  Bob met with Bret and Suzanna and formulated a plan to complete the project and bring Giovanni home. It was on the 12th of May, with this philanthropic spirit, that the team from Creative Touch Interiors embarked upon their new mission. Within three days, the Hartman Family had new vinyl and new carpet, and more importantly, a home prepared to shelter a little boy from his most intensive treatment yet.