“I can’t even believe this,” she said, holding her hands to her chest. “This is just utterly amazing. This is absolutely stunning.”

Swisher, an advanced registered nurse practitioner in Fort Dodge, was the recipient of a bedroom makeover from My Happy Haven, an organization based in Mason City that rallies funds and volunteers to create a “happy haven” for women who are battling cancer.

Swisher, who is currently battling an aggressive form of breast cancer, was nominated for a makeover by My Happy Haven by her husband, Dr. Adam Swisher.

The project all started back on July 6 when My Happy Haven — North Iowa, put out the call on Facebook for donations and volunteers. The director of the My Happy Haven — Cedar Falls/Waterloo affiliate, Shannon Huey, led the “on the road” project.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert Kari Swisher and daughters Madilyn, 6, and Ashlyn, 9, try out the new window bench seat in Swisher’s bedroom.

In less than 12 hours, My Happy Haven had raised the $3,000 needed for the project.

“That’s unheard of,” Huey said.

In addition to the monetary funds raised, MHH got connected with dozens of volunteers from the area who volunteered their time, skills and sweat for the makeover. Local businesses donated meals for the volunteers and decorations for the room.

Huey said she was blown away with the support from the Fort Dodge community.

“For people to offer to come and help put the room together — electricians were volunteering, painters were volunteering — we could have done four rooms this weekend with all the local help that was available for us,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
A window seat bench was one of the few things that Kari Swisher, of Fort Dodge, requested when My Happy Haven remodeled her bedroom this past week.

The workers got started on Thursday and the room was complete by the unveiling on Sunday afternoon.

“Everything went well, but COVID-19 definitely caused issues with timing and product availability,” Huey said.

My Happy Haven held a small unveiling party for Swisher’s family and friends on Sunday afternoon. As Swisher’s young children led her into the bedroom, Swisher pulled off her blindfold and held her hands to her chest taking in the scene.

Swisher has begun the long journey of battling her cancer with treatments and knows there will be days she won’t want to get out of bed or leave her room.

“I know that because of this gift, I will have a room that I will be happy to spend time in,” she said. “I will draw strength from it, knowing that I have the amazing support of so many in this fight.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
My Happy Haven, an organization that does custom bedroom remodels for women with cancer, recently did a bedroom for Kari Swisher, a Fort Dodge woman currently battling breast cancer.

In addition to the bedroom makeover, Swisher’s bathroom received a total facelift, courtesy of her close friends Amber Newell and Paula Ayala. While the bathroom was not part of the bedroom makeover, Newell and Ayala wanted to give it a new look for their friend.

The bathroom’s new look included a new wall built between the bathroom and bedroom, new flooring in the bathroom and new cabinetry and mirrors.

In the bedroom, all the walls were painted, a ceiling light fixture was changed and all new furniture was brought in. Swisher was asked what she’d like in a new room and her only request was a bench seat in the large window overlooking the backyard and woods behind her house.

“Thank you to the community of Fort Dodge and everybody who helped pull this through,” Swisher said. “Cancer’s a hard thing to survive. Day by day, it sucks, it’s the worst thing in your life, so to have this type of thing bring you up is amazing.”

After this bedroom makeover has helped lift her spirits, Swisher hopes to do the same for others. She’s working with My Happy Haven founder Lisa Tan, of Mason City, to start a Fort Dodge affiliate.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Kari Swisher, of Fort Dodge, is surrounded by friends and family when her new bathroom is unveiled. While My Happy Haven was remodeling her bedroom, Swisher’s friends teamed up to remodel the bathroom as well.

“Once you feel what this feels like for you, you want to be able to help as many people as you can,” Swisher said. “There’s so many people that I will be able to reach out and help. My goal at first will be to do one a month, then two a month and just build up as we go and really reach out to this community and change things.”