Local girl receives Make A Wish

Fourteen-year-old Campbell Doty has always been a princess-at-heart and every royal needs a castle with a balcony overlooking her kingdom.

Thanks to Make-a-Wish and a small army of volunteers, Doty got her castle — a cottage specially built for her — that any regal would be proud of.

On Friday, Doty and her family unveiled “Campbell’s Cottage” to the community with fitting fanfare that included a car parade by the family’s home on Southland Drive and royal visit from Doty’s favorite princess.

Clad in a white and hot pink gown, Doty received a handmade sign and keys to her cottage from Cinderella.

It was a moment, the 14-year-old had been waiting for almost two years.

Faith Hacker, senior development officer for Make-A-Wish, said it was a team effort to fulfill Campbell’s wish for a place of her own.

“It’s such a unique wish and we are so glad that, even during the pandemic, we are still fulfilling wishes thanks to help from the local community,” Hacker said.

Doty’s mother, Michelle Parke, said the outpouring of support from the community for her daughter has been overwhelming.

“Today has been so great,” Parke said after the car parade, which featured family, friends and local first responders. “It’s very exciting for us and for Campbell. The cottage is just beautiful and perfect.”

Parke said her daughter loves nature, especially butterflies and birds, and the large glass windows of the cottage allow her daughter to be outside more.

“She loves to paint and they even installed a shelf in the cottage where she can put up an easel to paint what she sees,” Parke explained. “They even installed a deck outside of her cottage so she can be outside for a bit.”

Those details mean a lot to Parke and Doty.

“Campbell communicated to us that she wanted her wish to be something she could experience every day and so we worked really hard to come up with something like this where she could experience nature,” Parke explained. “At first, I thought it was going to be a pop-up or pre-fab gazebo. Then two months ago they started building her a custom cottage and I’ve just been blown away. They added bird feeders and flower boxes and all kinds of things to attract wildlife. It’s so perfect and we are so grateful.”

Congleton-Hacker designed and built the cottage with access in mind.

Doty is wheelchair bound and suffers from a seizure disorder and needed a safe place outside where she would be out of the elements, sun and heat.

“It took us a couple of weeks to build. We went off the back of the home’s existing deck and made sure it was safe and wide enough for her have access with her wheelchair but with lots of windows so we could maximize her time outside,” Builder Doug Hacker explained. “The goal was to keep her out of the weather and sun, but also be a really nice, relaxing place.”

McKinney Painting in Winchester painted the cottage a bright white to help fuel Campbell’s creativity.

Pemberton’s Greenhouse in Lexington were contacted to assist with large flower boxes to go on the railings of the deck leading to the cottage for the perfect fairytale atmosphere.

Janna Pemberton Schmidt, one of the owners of the greenhouse, said they tried to include different flowers that would attract butterflies but also be low maintenance on the family.

“We put in some beautiful seasonal plants, but also some cold-hardy plants that will last through the winter. We made sure it was something that would last and beautify their backyard, but also something they could add their own spin on. They can add whatever plants they like when the seasonal plants are done,” Schmidt explained.

The greenhouse was more than happy to help fulfill Doty’s wish.

“We know how special it is to be outside and have beautiful plants and what it does for people’s moods. It’s a great opportunity, especially during this time, to be able to help someone and bring a smile to a child’s face,” Schmidt said.

Wild Birds Unlimited in Lexington donated bird feeders, feed and other items to help decorate the space and attract the birds Doty loves to paint.

“Part of what we do is about bringing people and nature together, so it was a perfect fit. We wanted to help out where we could,” Store Manager Nic Patton said.

According to Parke, Doty loves the new space and the fact the community rallied behind her wish.

“That’s the thing, a lot of time parents of special needs and chronically ill kids, we don’t like to ask for help. I’m one of the worst about it. But this week has been amazing. I had so many people help us with decorating and getting the parade organize. It was amazing all the people that showed up,” Parke explained.

Even in a pandemic, the mother said, they is a lot to be joyful about.

“We were a little isolated before. It’s the way it is, with doctor’s appointments and therapy. With COVID-19, we’ve been a little more isolated, so this day has been great. All these people that came out to help us and celebrate this day with us, it makes you not feel alone. It makes such a difference,” Parke said.

Even during a pandemic, with a little help from some fairy Godmothers, wishes still can come true.

Make-A-Wish is a national organization, but each local chapter is responsible for raising their own funds and donations stay local to help kids in the area.

More than 400 kids in Kentucky are still waiting for a wish to be granted.

Those interested in donating to help grant more local wishes, can do so online athttp://site.wish.org/goto/centralkyteamWH. To volunteer, hosta toy drive or fundraiser, contact Hacket at either fhacker@oki.wish.org or 859-619-5475.