Carly’s home: Emotional homecoming for young Charles City woman

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A joyous homecoming was held Wednesday afternoon for a young Charles City woman who has fought back from near death and become an inspiration to the community.

Carly Stevenson was welcomed back to her hometown with a police escort, a caravan of vehicles and a group of family and friends at her home — a home that now includes a new bedroom designed especially for her, along with other amenities.

Her journey — also known as Carly’s Fight — began almost exactly six months ago, on July 25, when she was on a family camping trip.

Carly, now 19, was then a recent Charles City High School graduate and athlete, and planned to be on her way in about a month to Wartburg College to throw discuss and shot put for the college track team.

But at the campground she began to feel sick, had trouble talking and was taken to the hospital. Doctors discovered she had developed blood clots, and she was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital for emergency surgery.

Her mother, Michelle Stevenson, said surgeons told them the situation was dire, and a clergy who was waiting for them when the family got to Des Moines warned them she wasn’t going to make it.

But make it she did. Carly came back.

Lack of oxygen to her brain resulted in some parts being impaired, and she has spent the time since then in physical therapy to begin regaining control over her body and to begin relearning to talk, first at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals in Omaha, then at On With Life in Ankeny.

Her mom has been with her the entire time, helping take care of her.

Although Carly was able to make a short visit home at Christmas, Wednesday was the homecoming everyone was waiting for.

Because Carly’s needs have changed, so has that home.

A large group of businesses, organizations and volunteers came together to get the Stevenson home ready to care for Carly.

The Rev. Steve Hanson, pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Charles City, told the Press that significant work needed to be done, in addition to just making getting into the home wheelchair accessible.

“Holland Contracting of Forest City is overseeing work on the bathroom renovation,” Hanson said. A wheelchair accessible shower was built, along with wheelchair accessible vanity.

Building materials were donated by Superior Lumber in Charles City and Lahner Electric of Charles City did the electrical work. Hockenson Plumbing of Charles City provided handicapped-accessible fixtures and Mason City Marble Tile and Marble provided bathroom tile.

Hanson said the church’s Advent offering was dedicated to help the family cover expenses not provided by insurance, volunteers and donations, and other organizations were encouraged to join the effort.

Carly’s new bedroom comes courtesy of My Happy Place, a Mason City-based non-profit organization that offers bedroom makeovers for kids diagnosed with an acute or chronic medical condition.

Lisa Tan, the executive director and founder of My Happy Place, was on hand at the Stevensons Wednesday for the bedroom reveal.

“A lot of people came together, as you know, to make this room possible,” Tan told the Stevensons. “When we posted on My Happy Place Facebook page, looking for a contractor, I think within an hour somebody was there, John Holland and his wife.

“There were a lot of people donating their time, their services, supplies,” she said, going through a list of names.

Talking to Carly’s parents, Tan said, “Michelle and Brian, on behalf of My Happy Place, thank you for letting strangers come into your house. It’s an honor, it’s a privilege. … It is so obvious the amount of love and support that your family has.”

Welcoming Carly into her bedroom for the first time, Tan said, “Carly, this is your new Happy Place. Welcome to your new room.”

Carly, her parents and her siblings, Wyatt, Jenya and Miyah, all exchanged hugs as they saw the new room, decorated in shades of Carly’s favorite color, purple.

“This is amazing. We were told that Carly would never make it, she would never come home. … It was six months ago yesterday,” Michelle Stevenson told the Press.

“She got to come home on Christmas, but had to go back. This is the first day that we’re able to stay here and be here as a family,” she said. “The bedroom is going to be really great for Carly. I think she’ll be able to settle in really fast and I think her progress is going to be even better at home.”

Stevenson said the support from the community has also been amazing.

She said she tried to keep track online of what was going on at their house, “but it still hasn’t really sunk in for all of us yet as far as what they’ve done and how amazing it’s been that they’ve taken the time to do this.”

Stevenson said Carly will continue receiving physical therapy and speech therapy at home.

“I’ve been taking care of her completely while we been at On With Life, so I know all her meds and I’m continuing,” Stevenson said.

“She’s making progress every day. We just have to keep being happy that we have her. She’s amazing. She’s talking. She completely knows what’s going on. It’s just getting her body to do what she wants it to do now. It’s a slow process,” Carly’s mom said.

The work at the home is only part of the community support the family has received.

What started as a candlelight prayer vigil at the high school parking lot was later followed by a benefit auction at the middle school as Carly’s survival became more clear.

A GoFundMe page was set up by a high school friend, and other fundraisers have been held.

Wendy Luft, a family friend, started the Carly’s Fight page on Facebook to keep family and friends informed about Carly’s progress.

“CARLY IS COMING HOME!!!” Luft posted on the page Monday, saying the day they had been praying for was near.

On Tuesday, the city of Charles City posted on its own Facebook page that the illuminated city water tower was lit in purple “in anticipation of Carly’s return home tomorrow.”