12-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Builds Housing for Sick Kids

When Harper Harrell was 8 years old and battling leukemia, she realized how lucky she was to live just 15 minutes from Duke Children's Hospital. Not every family facing pediatric cancer has that comfort.

Now 12 and cancer-free, Harper and her mother Heather Hindin are building Harper's Home, a six-unit residential community on their Durham property. The temporary housing gives families a safe, comfortable place to stay while their children receive treatment at Duke.

The need is enormous. More than 3,200 families travel over 40 miles to receive care at Duke Children's, and rural families face an average drive of 95 minutes each way. For many, those distances mean choosing between being near their sick child and affording a place to sleep.

Pediatric cancer treatment already costs families an average of $35,000 out of pocket. Adding hotel costs on top of medical bills, gas, and lost work income pushes many families to the breaking point.

Hindin didn't wait for construction to finish before helping. Since September 1st, she and Harper have rented two nearby homes and provided free housing for five families. That's over 350 nights where parents could focus on their child instead of worrying about where to sleep.

This week, they broke ground on the permanent property behind their home. Haven Design Build, a mission-oriented construction company, is building the first three units. Each 600-square-foot home will offer up to two bedrooms and cost families nothing or just a minimal fee.

"When you are dealing with the most challenging time of your life, wondering if your child is going to survive, being able to unlock a door at the end of day gives them some small measure of comfort," Hindin said.

The Ripple Effect

Harper's Home joins the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Triangle in meeting overwhelming demand. Last year alone, those three locations hosted families for over 29,000 stays. But unlike shared living spaces, Harper's Home offers private residences where exhausted families can rest together.

Matthew Rougeux, Vice President of Children's Services at Duke University Hospital, says the impact reaches beyond shelter. Families traveling from across the country often arrive knowing no one and feeling completely alone. Having guaranteed housing removes one massive source of stress during an already devastating time.

Drew Helm, Executive Director of Haven Design Build, says working on Harper's Home gives his entire team purpose. "It is hard to describe just the feeling of being involved with it. I think it just makes it easier to get up in the morning and to do the good work."

The first three units should be ready in ten months. Phase two depends on fundraising, but Harper and her mother aren't waiting to make a difference.