OXFORD, Miss. (WMC) — An interior designer and former St. Jude patient is designing a bedroom in the Oxford St. Jude Dream Home.
Bayleigh Caldwell Buskirk works as a designer and social media producer at Something Southern on the Oxford Square. She is also fighting cancer.
“I was diagnosed on December 22 of last year … I was 23 years old at the time and I was accepted to St. Jude within 24 hours of my diagnosis,” Buskirk said.
Bayleigh Caldwell Buskirk(Action News 5)Diagnosis and treatment
Buskirk found the first lump while playing with a necklace at work, three weeks into her job. Weeks later, she found six more. She was diagnosed with classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma, stage three.
At the time, she was a recent college graduate engaged to be married. She said she didn’t think St. Jude accepted patients like her.
“My understanding was that they only accepted up until 18 … but the cutoff for St. Jude is actually 25 years old,” Buskirk said.
Buskirk’s family never saw a bill. St. Jude covered housing, food and treatment.
Bayleigh Caldwell Buskirk and family(Bayleigh Caldwell Buskirk)
“Any issue I had … they had a solution,” Buskirk said.
“I had a social worker, psychologist, a massive care team,” Buskirk said.
“Or even my family … they also provided care for my family as well,” Buskirk said.
Designing the guest bedroom
Oxford was chosen for its first-ever St. Jude Dream Home. Something Southern store manager Phyllis Smith said the store didn’t hesitate to get involved.
“It’s the guest bedroom downstairs. Yes. And so, Bailey is going to put her special touch on that, using her St. Jude ribbon color and bringing her story to the bedroom,” Smith said.
The guest bedroom is one of four bedrooms in the 2,700-square-foot home. Buskirk is designing the space with light blue drapes with decorative tape, Euro pillows, a colorful bolster and a coverlet, built around three colors: blue, green and purple, for Hodgkin’s lymphoma awareness.
“I’m excited to see my room play out. I have incorporated my awareness ribbon colors — which is purple — into the design,” Buskirk said.
“I’m glad that I can play such a small role in such a large project,” Buskirk said.
What’s next for Buskirk
Buskirk finished treatment in May. She recently married and will soon learn whether she is cancer-free.
Her fabric swatches will become part of a home built for families like hers.
How to get tickets
Something Southern is donating a $2,500 gift card as an Open House prize. Tickets for the Oxford St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway are available now.
Residents of Tennessee or Arkansas can call 1-800-537-3464. Mississippi residents can purchase tickets online at dreamhome.org.
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