UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP.
— Recently, the Henderson family had the chance to “pay it forward.”
And their experience of giving back to others was documented by a crew from HGTV’s “Sandra Lee Celebrates.” That show will air Saturday on HGTV at 8 p.m.
“They came in and took over,” Pam Henderson said with a laugh. “There were camera people everywhere.”
The Henderson family was chosen for the TV special because of daughter Kelsea’s battle with cancer. Kelsea, now 18 and attending St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, was diagnosed with the illness at 13.
From 2004 to 2008, the family has supported Kelsea through her illness, and today’s special will help them get back the family holiday traditions that were lost during that time.
It also features the Hendersons going to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to give beauty kits and art buckets to the children on the intensive care unit floor. Kelsea was treated at CHOP during her illness, which her mother described as a long and trying process for the teenager.
“The whole time she smiled,” her mother, Pam, said of Kelsea during her battle with cancer, adding she kept up with school work through tutors and graduated high school with a 4.0. The opportunity to be on HGTV came after Kelsea did a public speaking event, and someone forwarded her story to the station.
She said the HGTV crew spent about three days with them at their home on Daretown-Alloway Road and at CHOP in October. Filming usually ran from about 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“We did cooking and craft things,” Pam said of the experience, adding it concluded with a giant family dinner. “We just let them come in and do whatever.”
Months after HGTV came to the home, the Hendersons still have up a Christmas tree decorated with photos and green ornaments, as well as green accent pieces they made during the filming of the program. The HGTV crew even made a green wreath out of lollipops that still hangs above the family’s couch.
“It was constant,” she said of the action, adding they took each member of the family aside and did interviews with them. “They showed us how to get back to family traditions that we lost while Kelsea was sick. They were so much fun.”
Pam said she, her husband, Ted, Kelsea, and Kelsea’s sister, Karlee, most enjoyed making the buckets for the kids at CHOP. She added they made four really big boxes for the hospital, and were able to give one of the gifts to a child there named Rose.
“It felt really good,” she said of the experience. “It is hard being there all the time. You have to make the best of what you have.”
Since Kelsea will be at college, she plans to watch the show with friends, Pam said. Karlee is hosting a party with friends to watch the special.
Kelsea called the experience awesome.
“It was so much fun,” she said. “The best part was making the kits for the kids.”
Kelsea said she only got to meet one of the patients, but said her face lit up when she saw the gift.
“It made me feel so good to give that to her,” she said.
Kelsea said she’s feeling good and looking forward to being on TV.
“I’m so excited,” she said.