Like a burst of energy she came into your home, showing you what a welcome change a fresh coat of paint and a new perspective could make. But suddenly, life got complicated for HGTV Design Star Jennifer Bertrand.
Her infant son, Winston, was born with a rare disorder and requires around the clock nursing care. FOX 4's Leslie Carto sat down with Bertrand who shares her story -- not of heartache, but hope.
Even after a long day, you can hear joy at the Bertrands.
"The only way to get through all of it is laughter. That's our recipe," Bertrand said.
It's not that his parents' loving giggles overpower nine-month-old Winston Spencer Bertrand's cranky tears, but Winston doesn't make much noise.
"He's the most well-natured, good-natured little boy," Chris Bertrand said.
To say they're proud is an understatement, like saying winning HGTV's show Design Star was no big deal.
The former teacher and her husband, Chris, started Bertrand Design. She entered the HGTV competition and won. Then Bertrand got pregnant. Before Winston was born, the couple knew something was wrong, but thought it was a tumor that could be removed.
"And then when they told us it was a lymphatic malformation and it's something different and that means fluid channeled to the muscle tissue and it was a lot more difficult to take care of," explains Bertrand.
The military brat and the Brit would, as the saying goes, keep calm and carry on.
"You just take care of business," Chris Bertrand said.
For that moment, business no longer meant picking a cabinet finish. Rather, seven weeks of neonatal intensive care for Winston, who was born with malformations of his lymph nodes and veins.
"My sister said 'Jen, it looks way worse from the outside than you are presenting it'. But you won't survive it if you don't look at it positively," Bertrand said.
The Bertrands are now not only taking care of Winston, who was named after Sir Churchill, but also facing a mountain of medical bills even though they're insured.
"Between the show and the economy, it killed our business because people thought I was gone, and didn't know I was still doing stuff so now we're trying to say we're back. We're doing stuff," Bertrand said.
Not only design, but a creative website: hugsforthesoul.com. It's where the Bertrands share what they've learned, so other parents don't have to figure it out the hard way. Just a click away will show you how popular the family is... Winston that is. Two more social sites show the warriors rallying for him.
"As soon as we get our stuff sorted, if there's more, it'll go towards a foundation, towards helping other people because it's really hard to take," Bertrand said.
There's nothing in the works for another television show now, but the design star said HGTV hasn't ruled one out. So with their new baby, they take a day at a time. And in the words of Winston's namesake, "Never, never, never, never give up."
On Saturday, November 21st, Bertrand's friends will be holding a fundraiser for her at her former Blue Valley school. In December, friends will also hold a benefit concert in Los Angeles
Donations are needed for their Holiday Gift Mart Nov. 21 for Winston at Cottonwood Point Elementary in Overland Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can email Janine Lewis at cdjmlewis@yahoo.com and subject it "Winston Fundraiser" for more information.
Winston Warriors items will also be available for purchase as well.
Her infant son, Winston, was born with a rare disorder and requires around the clock nursing care. FOX 4's Leslie Carto sat down with Bertrand who shares her story -- not of heartache, but hope.
Even after a long day, you can hear joy at the Bertrands.
"The only way to get through all of it is laughter. That's our recipe," Bertrand said.
It's not that his parents' loving giggles overpower nine-month-old Winston Spencer Bertrand's cranky tears, but Winston doesn't make much noise.
"He's the most well-natured, good-natured little boy," Chris Bertrand said.
To say they're proud is an understatement, like saying winning HGTV's show Design Star was no big deal.
The former teacher and her husband, Chris, started Bertrand Design. She entered the HGTV competition and won. Then Bertrand got pregnant. Before Winston was born, the couple knew something was wrong, but thought it was a tumor that could be removed.
"And then when they told us it was a lymphatic malformation and it's something different and that means fluid channeled to the muscle tissue and it was a lot more difficult to take care of," explains Bertrand.
The military brat and the Brit would, as the saying goes, keep calm and carry on.
"You just take care of business," Chris Bertrand said.
For that moment, business no longer meant picking a cabinet finish. Rather, seven weeks of neonatal intensive care for Winston, who was born with malformations of his lymph nodes and veins.
"My sister said 'Jen, it looks way worse from the outside than you are presenting it'. But you won't survive it if you don't look at it positively," Bertrand said.
The Bertrands are now not only taking care of Winston, who was named after Sir Churchill, but also facing a mountain of medical bills even though they're insured.
"Between the show and the economy, it killed our business because people thought I was gone, and didn't know I was still doing stuff so now we're trying to say we're back. We're doing stuff," Bertrand said.
Not only design, but a creative website: hugsforthesoul.com. It's where the Bertrands share what they've learned, so other parents don't have to figure it out the hard way. Just a click away will show you how popular the family is... Winston that is. Two more social sites show the warriors rallying for him.
"As soon as we get our stuff sorted, if there's more, it'll go towards a foundation, towards helping other people because it's really hard to take," Bertrand said.
There's nothing in the works for another television show now, but the design star said HGTV hasn't ruled one out. So with their new baby, they take a day at a time. And in the words of Winston's namesake, "Never, never, never, never give up."
On Saturday, November 21st, Bertrand's friends will be holding a fundraiser for her at her former Blue Valley school. In December, friends will also hold a benefit concert in Los Angeles
Donations are needed for their Holiday Gift Mart Nov. 21 for Winston at Cottonwood Point Elementary in Overland Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can email Janine Lewis at cdjmlewis@yahoo.com and subject it "Winston Fundraiser" for more information.
Winston Warriors items will also be available for purchase as well.
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