Wishes & More assisted in the creation of a sensory-friendly space for the Stanek family. Photos: Chris Emeott
When Woodbury parents Heather and Lee Stanek first reached out to Wishes & More in early 2024, they had a simple but profound hope: to create a space for their now 13-year-old son, Finley. Born with agenesis of the corpus callosum—a condition where part of the brain connecting the left and right hemispheres is missing—Finley faces medical and developmental challenges that can make typical family activities difficult. “He’s got such a big personality, but he’s very hard to travel with,” Heather says. The family wanted a dedicated space in their home where Finley could play safely and where they could spend time with him and his older brother, Aidan, 16.
They dreamed up a basement remodel, a sanctuary tailored to Finley’s unique needs and sensory preferences. Wishes & More, a Twin Cities-based nonprofit that grants wishes for kids with life-threatening conditions, came on board to fund the project. “We send two trained volunteers to meet with the family and the wish kid,” says Karla Blomberg, Wishes & More president. “The Stanek family was wonderful and so appreciative.”
Wishes & More works with local partners and donors to fund wishes like Finley’s; in this case, it engaged Vujovich Design & Build and AMEK Design + Build to construct the basement remodel.
Lee and Heather Stanek with their children, Finley (13) and Aidan (16).
AMEK lead designer Hanna Crosser worked with the Staneks to brainstorm a room that would grow with Finley. Crosser says a primary challenge was “providing enough stimulation and preventing overstimulation. It was crucial to make sure the environment was secure and adaptable, encouraging self-regulation without causing Finley to feel overwhelmed or stressed.” Nearly every element of the basement received her touch. “The space incorporates varied textures … color-changing sensory wall tiles and uniquely shaped, adaptable furniture,” Crosser says. “Knowing that every element in Finley’s space serves a purpose is deeply rewarding.”
A special swing mounted on a track (with safety stoppers) allows Finley to experience the movement he craves. “Swinging is one of his favorite things,” Heather says. A hand-painted ocean mural pays homage to his love of the sea. “We took a trip to Maine, and Finley just fell in love with the ocean,” Heather says. Yoga balls and other gross-motor pieces allow for bouncing and climbing. A curtain on a track can be opened and closed to Finley’s heart’s content (inspired by his fascination with the curtains at his doctor’s office). A bubble wall and movable lights provide sensory input. “He has a knack for moving furniture, so we put in a table and chairs that he could rearrange,” Heather says. Finley and his therapists also use the table and chairs for sessions, and a small, preexisting kitchenette lets the family gather for snacks.
Heather Stanek says swinging is one of Finley’s favorite things to do—and the swing, mounted to the ceiling via a track with safety stoppers, allows Finley the movement that he enjoys.
On the other side of the handy curtain is a space designed just for Aidan, where he can play video games or relax. “They can separate their space but can also be down there together,” Heather says. “It gives them a chance to hang out together.”
For the Staneks it’s more than just a room renovation. It represents a profound understanding of Finley’s needs. “This is a really special place for him,” Heather says. “There’s room for him to grow and enjoy it for a long time.”
Learn more at wishesandmore.org.
