3 minute read
Work with Your Whole Heart
Kean and Lonni / PHOTO BY CAMILYNNE PHOTOGRAPHY
Lonni Leavitt-Barker's Personal Journey to Support Families
Long before Lonni Leavitt-Barker had ever heard of Camp Rainbow Gold, she was the recipient of an unexpected surprise. At a stage in life when she thought her family was complete, Lonni and her husband welcomed a little boy into the world, who brought with him a warmth and excitement they hadn't anticipated.
Of course, the proper way to receive a gift is with open arms, which is exactly what the family did. They lovingly called him their "dessert baby," a sweet and delightful addition that added a new flavor to their lives. “We thought we were full,” Lonni said. “But we always had room for something yummy!”
The baby, named Nathan Kean, was born ready to fight. Kean is Welsh for fighter, and Lonni said there has never been a child more appropriately named. After she spent 75 days in the hospital on bedrest, Lonni gave birth to Kean, who would spend another 45 days in the newborn intensive care unit.
She said she thinks of it as a kind of “dress rehearsal” for the cancer diagnosis that would come when Kean was two years old. In so many ways, the diagnosis changed the course of Lonni’s life, including introducing her to Camp Rainbow Gold. Initially, one of Kean’s doctors suggested that maybe her three daughters would benefit from the camp’s sibling program. In the 15 years since, Lonni has volunteered at the camp, served as a fundraiser, emcee, and board member. Now, she’s the camp’s capital campaign director.
From her youth in Las Vegas to her journey to become an Emmy award-winning investigative reporter, Lonni said that this is truly her "heart job," in part because of her desire to support other families. This desire began in the early days of her son’s diagnosis when she founded Baldapalooza, a music festival to benefit Idaho families and children battling cancer.
The effort, which was originally suggested by a neighbor who wanted to raise money for Kean’s treatment, inspired Lonni to work with families who hadn’t received the overwhelming community support that she and her family had. She dedicated the proceeds from the first festival to create the Hall of Heroes on the fourth floor of the children's cancer unit at St. Luke's. The hall features portraits of children who have undergone treatment there, each holding a picture of themselves during their treatment with a note that shares their journey and offers encouragement to families beginning their own treatment journeys. The space serves as a beacon of hope, showing that courage and resilience can lead to triumph. Proceeds from the two following festivals were donated to Camp Rainbow Gold.
Lonni credited her mom and grandma as her biggest heroes and role models, whose "perfect balance in life" has guided her in shaping a balanced and fulfilling life of her own.
“It is just all about balance and this perfect recipe of doing your best in life but also finding time to give back and to help others," Lonni said.
