An unyielding neighborhood homeowner’s association had no problems crushing the dream of a six year-old girl who is stricken with life-threatening cancer.
But overwhelming public pressure might be shaming it into surrender.
In Raymore, Mo., little Ella Schulz is in the fight of her life. Not only is she fighting cancer, but she’s also fighting the heartless cabal, which denied Make-A-Wish’s plan to build her a dream play house. The story was reported Wednesday by KCTV in Kansas City.
When Ella’s mother, Jennifer, asked her for her No. 1 wish, she said to beat cancer.
Then her mom asked what she would want beyond that.
“She said, ‘A house,'” her mother recalled. “‘I want a play one.'”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation worked to make the dream a reality. Construction company J.E. Dunn agreed to build the home in the Schulz’s back yard, and match the shingles to the other neighborhood homes.
But the Stone Gate Homeowner’s Association denied a building permit.
Schulz said, “Everything seemed to be going fine then we got a phone call: Your HOA will not approve it.”
Stone Gate HOA president Stacy Bayers refused to comment on the decision until the group had a chance to discuss the issue again. But in a cowardly move, the HOA removed the names and phone numbers of their members from the group’s website.
When asked why it is difficult to make an exception for Ella, Bayers responded, ”I’m not at liberty to discuss that. The proposed plan they’ve given us is a violation of our covenants.”
After the story aired though, a storm of protest broke out, with Twitter users proclaiming the “HOA ought to be ashamed!”
Late Wednesday night, the HOA issued a statement:
The board has met for the better half of the day and at this time we would like to release the following statement.
Our hearts are with Ella Schultz and her family as they battle this terrible illness. Our homeowners’ association board is committed to working with Make-A-Wish Foundation and J.E. Dunn to see if we can figure out a way to make Ella’s wish come true. The initial request from Make-A-Wish to place a barn-style shed was not accepted because the board did not have enough information to grant an exception to the subdivision’s covenants. In hopes of getting enough information, we are requesting an immediate meeting with Make-A-Wish and J.E. Dunn Construction to work out a solution in the most expeditious manner possible.
Their statement raises the question, if it weren’t for the light of press coverage, and Raymore city hall phones ringing off the hook, would they have been so eager to reconsider?
Some people consider violations of neighborhood building covenants to be more important than the violation of a sick little girl’s dreams.
Ella has a GoFundMe page to receive donations, and a Twitter hashtag #SaveEllasWish.
The Twitterverse is taking up Ella’s cause.
Wish of dying little girl battling cancer was denied #saveellaswish
— cheryelle (@sportrocgirl55) March 5, 2015
Let her have a damn playhouse!! #SaveEllasWish
— Patrick P Hurley (@_PatrickHurley) March 5, 2015
How Can This Mean Homeowner’s Association Deny This #MakeaWish Child Her Wish? #saveellaswish http://t.co/Opwf6ZSfAN http://t.co/LQUoIL0Dze
— Andrea Navajas (@andreanavajas) March 5, 2015
Have they no shame?
#SaveEllasWish.. the HOA ought to be ashamed of themselves!!
— tara (@MissTaraToYou) March 5, 2015
There’s even a petition on change.org.
Isn’t leukemia enough hardship for a six year old? Please sign the petition to save Ella’s playhouse! #SaveEllasWish https://t.co/8VkN6s5X57
— Helena Zubkow (@misshelenasue) March 5, 2015
Shame on you, #StoneGateHOA. What kind of terrible monsters would reject a little girl’s Make-A-Wish? #SaveEllasWish
— Helena Zubkow (@misshelenasue) March 5, 2015
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