Building 'Healing Home' for a Malad family and their cancer-diagnosed daughter

MALAD, Idaho — A dream come true for a special family from Idaho who is getting a gift they could have never imagined.

It comes at a time when they are dealing with the heartbreak of cancer returning for a second time to their young daughter.

KSL TV caught up with the Bird family at their townhome in Malad, Idaho when the family was celebrating Brielle’s 9th birthday, a little girl who has already been through so much.

“It's a blessing and a miracle every birthday that we get to celebrate is so exciting for us,” Brielle’s mother Kendra Bird said.

It all started in 2020 at the young age of four years old when Brielle was first diagnosed with a fast-spreading cancer called Neuroblastoma.

“Lots of heavy emotions and crying and talking to family members and feeling very heavy in every sense of the word,” Kendra said.

For two years, Brielle’s little body went through a half dozen rounds of chemotherapy, two bone marrow transplants, and 12 rounds of radiation. Two years later Brielle finally got to ring the bell. She was cancer-free.

“I was having fun. My hair was all grown back. I had my hair in a ponytail, and I was just playing,” Brielle said.

But then something started to happen.

“My back started to hurt and dad saw me touching my back, then he got me a hot bag, then I just started laying down on the couch,” Brielle said.

Brielle's cancer had returned after 22 months. That was in January of 2024.

“Mom and Dad called my name up into my room and they said I had cancer again. And I didn't like hearing that,” Brielle said.

“Hearing cancer for the first time is heartbreaking. Hearing cancer for the second time is really, no good words to describe the defeat that you feel,” Kendra added.

For Brielle, it meant more hospital visits and less time with friends.

“I'm missing a lot of school even though I love going to school. I love seeing my friends. I love going to the cafeteria with my friends,” Brielle said.

Sadly, at this time there is nothing more doctors can do, so the family is turning to other sources for healing.

In the family's kitchen is a Hyperbaric chamber.

“This is pure oxygen, and this machine takes you to an ATK of 40, which is atmospheric pressure that heals your body,” Kendra said.

In the garage is a bed sauna, that Brielle will lay in for about 30 seconds at a time.

“It’s supposed to raise your body temperature by three degrees to fight cancer,” Kendra said.

And in Brielle's room is an infra-red setup.

“Near-infrared light is supposed to penetrate deeper into the skin to fight cancer and hopefully break down tumors,” Kendra said. “We are just incorporating anything that we hear that might work and might fight cancer then we will do it.

But all the equipment and household items for this family of six are making for a very tight fit. In fact, their kitchen table is actually out in the garage.

“Are we exploding out at the seams at this place, yeah that's true. So, more space will definitely be a huge blessing,” Kendra said.

Answering the call to help this family is a huge community of neighbors, friends, and family who have all gathered only minutes away from the Bird's home, to not only celebrate Brielle's Birthday but to give this family a gift they could only dream about.

All because of Jackie Culley, the founder of Christmas for Cancer Families, who had an unbelievable dream that has brought the community here on this day to celebrate.

The Birds stood on their new property lot and broke ground for their new home.

“Couldn't believe it! We never truly in a decade thought we would ever own a home. We have a lot that's going on right now and fighting cancer a second time and bills and rent and all that,”  Kendra said.

Jackie Culley’s son, Riley, was diagnosed with cancer at just 17 years old. He passed away at 23 years old in 2020. Culley and her son started the nonprofit organization while he was still alive because they wanted to help other families.

Culley said when she met the Birds and saw their situation it was a feeling of wanting to help in a very big way.

“They just really didn't have anywhere to sit or stand or eat and I just thought you know there is just not a more deserving family than this,” Culley said. “Sixty days ago, we started a movement to raise $300,000 dollars and to get enough volunteers contractors subcontractors, and suppliers enough to build a home.”

The whole thing just doesn’t seem real to the Birds. “Couldn't believe it. We never truly in a decade thought we would ever own a home. We have a lot that's going on right now, and fighting cancer a second time and bills and rent and all that,” Kendra said. “It’s overwhelming. There are a lot of emotions. I constantly feel inadequate. It's beautiful we feel so loved."

Jackie said they are still accepting financial contributions and looking for volunteer framers and laborers, and donated appliances. If you would like to help go to the Christmas For Cancer Families website.

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