Homeownership was impossible for woman with debilitating condition — so her mom DIY-ed the next best thing

Life’s real joy lies in the mundane and little things that we usually take for granted. Sometimes, while dreaming of a better future, we forget what we have in the present. Emphasizing the same, a mom whose daughter was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition went all out in redoing her room’s door. The loving mom and content creator, Lissa Jade—who goes by @lissa.jade1 on TikTok—decided to fulfill her 18-year-old daughter Leah’s wish for her own apartment. The video showed the mom’s efforts in bringing a sweet yet extraordinary change to her daughter’s life.

Leah had always wanted her own place to live. Due to her medical condition, it was nearly impossible for her to move and live independently. “Due to my daughter’s diagnosis, she won’t ever have a home of her own. So, I created an apartment door for her bedroom,” the mom informed through the text overlay on the video. Additionally, it showed before-and-after pictures of the teen’s bedroom door, highlighting the transformation her mom added to make the space feel more special. The door initially was painted all-white, with no decorative elements other than a small piece of art hanging on it. Jade’s personal touch induced significant change to it, giving it an apartment-like vibe.

The portal to Liah’s world had indeed become fancier, with a bouquet and a tiny mailbox installed on it. To ensure its authenticity, the caring mom also labeled the gate with the number “206.” Also, she laid a small, beautiful carpet with a plant outside the cyan-colored doorway. “As for the color of the door, I, unfortunately, lost the swatches and can’t remember the exact shade; all I know is that it’s her favorite,” remarked the mom.

In a follow-up video, the mom talked more about her daughter and explained how Leah had a tough time growing up with CHD2, or myoclonic encephalopathy. In 2020, after eleven long years of struggle, visiting doctors and hospitals across multiple states, the teen’s diagnosis was finally confirmed. “At the time of diagnosis, she was 1 of 44 in the world,” said Jade, adding that from January to March last year, her daughter underwent three brain surgeries. “She will never experience the mundane things we all take for granted daily, but she has something we all lost: the ability to see the world through a child’s eyes. With brain damage and regression, it has frozen her in time,” the mother spoke her heart out. 

While emphasizing their unique bond, she recalled a major incident that changed her outlook on life. In 2021, a tonic-clonic seizure almost cost Leah her life. “I almost lost her, and when she woke up days later, she squeezed my hand and said, 'I still fight.’ And that’s my Leah, our warrior,” she concluded, inspiring millions of her viewers with her heart-touching story of survival. Among the countless reactions to the mom’s attempt to fulfill her daughter’s apartment dream shared in the first video, @lovesxmas said, “I have a 21-year-old autistic son, and I love this idea.” “You're giving her the freedom of being an adult while also acknowledging you'll be there for her in an instant, no matter what,” @spookymanatee lauded.

You can follow Lissa Jade (@lissa.jade1) on TikTok for more parental and lifestyle content.