Dawn Carlson said that when it was decided to install a new bathroom for friends, “God provided every single thing we needed.”

And, indeed, a bathroom was remodeled at the Dan and Becky Bergstrom home, and a new furnace, too, thanks to many friends and supporters.

The Bergstroms always expected to remodel the bathroom of their 19th century farmhouse. But the focus of their lives changed when it was found Becky had desmoplastic small-round-cell tumors. Suddenly, priorities shifted.

Friends and family stepped up to help. Dan’s cousin, Geri Tollefson, was the driving force in organizing a benefit in January to help raise funds to off-set medical costs. The idea for the bathroom remodel came out of the benefit, said Dawn. Dawn and her husband Chad, owners of Austin Electric, where Dan worked, stepped up to organize and donate to the bathroom remodel.

“We’ve been friends for years and our kids are about the same age,” she said. “Dan was our very first employee.” Dan and Becky are parents of Ryder, Boden and Paisley.

Dawn was quick to point out that friends and soon-to-be-called-friends made the remodel truly successful.

“And it spread; pretty soon, Elizabeth Leyk was calling, wondering if she could help with the design; (carpenter) Jack Underwood was just fantastic. Harty Mechanical didn’t really know the family but Patrick Harty called, saying he wanted to cover plumbing supplies – they weren’t friends, but then they became friends.”

Then there was Greenman’s, and then Tom’s Heating; Matt Brady started raising some money and then items were being donated …” her voice trailed. “People were calling, one by one, ‘Hey, what can I do?’”

Also stepping up was Austin Builders Supply, CCI Granite, Hanson Construction, Thompson Sanitation – all provided in-kind labor, donated supplies, or provided other discounts for the new bathroom and new furnace. Wellness 1st Chiropractic even offered free messages to the Bergstroms.

That was in March. Now it is April and the remodel is almost done, except for a few items still to be delivered. Carlson said she will remember people’s kindness and willingness to help. But as the friends and family – extended way beyond what the Carlsons had first envisioned – came together, lessons were learned.

“Peoples’ hearts – they are amazing,” she marveled. “There are still good things in this world.” Her only regret, she said, is that Becky — who was involved in the planning early in the process, has not been able to take part in recent weeks.

Carlson said she also learned that the power of even one person stepping up and saying, “This needs to be done” cannot be underestimated, she said.

Her faith was also reaffirmed.

“Honestly, when we first started, we felt that this was something God wanted us to do; we thought, ‘He will provide.’ And in the end, he provided every little thing we needed.”

Donations may still be made to the Becky Bergstrom Benefit at Home Federal bank in Austin.