Luke Bowman was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) just before his third birthday. DMD is a genetic disorder presenting progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. But Luke doesn’t let that stop him. With his compassionate and loving parents, Debbie and Chad Bowman, by his side and the companionship of his dog, Cody, he is living his best life here in the south metro area.
Luke's day-to-day looks a little different than other kids his age. Living with DMD means he uses a wheelchair and requires assistance doing daily activities like bathing and getting dressed. As Luke got older, his need for independence grew. The Bowmans reached out to the Home Builders Foundation (HBF), seeking a space where Luke could retreat to complete tasks helping him build his independence. HBF was thrilled to accept Luke’s family into their own and, together with the FBC Remodel team, complete a bathroom remodel for Luke that would meet his needs and grow with him.
“HBF and FBC Remodel spent a lot of time with Luke finding out what he likes and needs,” stated Debbie. The FBC Team had to ensure that the space was ADA compliant and functional for Luke’s needs while also being a cool and comfortable space for him to enjoy.
To be functional for Luke, the bathroom required ample space around the tub, shower, and sink to allow for the turn radius of his wheelchair to move freely. Experienced with ADA compliance, designer Kacie was familiar with the logistics and necessities of the project and put together a design plan that worked perfectly for Luke.
Then came designing the elements that truly brought the room to life. Kacie spearheaded the design of Luke’s bathroom, took the time to get to know the Bowman family, and worked diligently to create a space that brought them joy. She discovered their love for Star Wars and incorporated design elements that brought the movie series to life in his bathroom.
"For us, the joy in independence and ease of use. just allowing him to be in there and relax and have a sanctuary," Debbie Bowman says. Luke says it simply, "as they build, there is more joy."
At FBC Remodel, we aim to build joy for as many people as possible. Joy looks different to each person, and as part of this project, we wanted to ensure that we spread joy throughout our team, the HBF team, and, most importantly, the Bowmans. This project gave us an incredible opportunity to spread joy to a family in need and bring joy to our FBC Remodel family.
This year we are celebrating 25 years of building joy. Over the next 10 years, our goal is to build joy for one million people, including those on our team, our clients, and people throughout the communities where we live and work. By teaming up with companies like HBF, we will continue to work diligently to bring joy to those in need.
Contributor's Note: Alyssa Mallette is the Content and Automation Manager at FBC remodel. To read more about Luke, FBC's philanthropy and Building Joy, visit them at FBCRemodel.com.
