Child cancer survivor starts nonprofit

DURHAM, N.C. — Harper Harrell knows first-hand the importance of having a place to stay near the hospital while enduring extended treatment. She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was 8 years old and had to undergo two years of treatment. 

“When I was in treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at Duke Children’s Hospital, we met so many families who didn’t have a place to stay,” Harrell said.

Fortunately for Harrell and her family they didn’t live far from Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center and never worried about housing during her stay in the hospital. But she knows that’s not the case for everyone. 

“They were living out of suitcases and hotels, and there was really no place for them to go,” Harrell said.

That’s why she started her own nonprofit called “Harper’s Home.” The goal of Harper’s Home is to build eight homes in close proximity to the hospital for families with children fighting life-threatening illnesses to stay free of charge. 

“Being able to stay here and having a roof over their head and not having to worry about it while a child is in treatment,” Harrell said.

Currently, they are renting two homes three miles away from the hospital as they wait for the city to approve their permits to start building homes on their property. Harper’s mother, Heather Hindin, said renting these homes were only possible because of the giving community.

“The way I see it is that we, Durham, the city, have kind of a responsibility as the place where Duke Children’s lives to open our arms and embrace the people who are coming here scared, uncertain,” Hindin said.

Studies show more than half the kids in extended treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital come from over 50 miles away. Those same kids sometimes need to get to the emergency room within 30 minutes if they spike a fever and if not, their condition could become deadly. 

“When we talk about being two miles or three miles from Duke Children’s, it’s not just convenient. It is in fact, a critical part of treatment,” Hindin said.

It’s Harrell’s goal to make the lives of families a little bit easier, one home at a time.

“Everybody deserves an equal opportunity to be able to get to their local world-class hospital or travel to a world-class hospital,” Harrell said.

If you’d like to help Harrell grow her vision and help a family in need, you can donate at the Harper’s Home website.