Mason’s Light House to honor Grinnell boy’s legacy

Mason Sieck, 7, center, is shown with his family, from left, Shanna, Izabella, Colton and dad, Curtis, at the Crescent Cove Pediatric Respite and Hospice Home for Kids in Brooklyn Park, Minn., where he spent the last week of his life. Mason passed away on March 22, 2021 of Gardner Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that caused noncancerous and cancerous growths known as desmoid tumors to develop throughout his body. Curtis and Shanna, along with a four-member board, are currently raising money and are planning to build a pediatric respite and hospice home in the Iowa City area that will provide loving care and give peace to children and their families in Mason’s honor.

​By J.O. Parker
 
     Seven-year-old Mason Sieck, who most knew as Mighty Mason, fought the good fight of faith. He believed in Jesus, loved those around him, carried a big smile and spent the short years he had on this earth giving to others.
    He loved spending time with his dad, Curtis, and grandfather, Scott, at the Grinnell Fire Station and was an honorary member of the department. He even had his own turnout gear and loved going on fire calls.
     “When the pager went off, he would have his full set of gear on before I could get my shoes on,” said Curtis, who volunteers with the GFD. “It didn’t matter what the page was for, he wanted to help people.”
    At age 2, Mason was diagnosed with Gardner Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that caused noncancerous and cancerous growths known as desmoid tumors to develop throughout his body.
Mason passed away on March 22, 2021 at the Crescent Cove Pediatric Respite and Hospice Home for Kids in Brooklyn Park, Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis.
     Mason was a first grader at Fairview Elementary in Grinnell at the time.
Even though his life was short on this earth, Mason’s memory of helping others will live on for many years, thanks to his parents, Curtis and Shanna (Elliott) Sieck, and a four-member board who are currently laying out plans to build a pediatric respite and hospice home that will provide loving care and give peace to children and their families in Mason’s honor. It will be located in the Iowa City area.
    Shanna said there are many respite and hospice homes that will take children, but only three in the country that are specifically designed for children. They are in Arizona, California and in Brooklyn Park, Minn.
    Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers. It could be for a few hours or a longer period of time. Hospice care focuses on giving quality of life for terminal patients.
Shanna said Mason loved his short time at Crescent Cove. 
    “Every day we were there, Mason would wake up say he loved it there,” recalled Shanna. “The only thing he missed was A&E milk.”
    On our way home on the day Mason passed, Curtis said, “Every state needs a hospice house for children.”
    That set wheels into motion and since that time an official name, Mason’s Light House, and logo for the facility has been established. The facility will feature two hospice rooms, four respite rooms and two family suites. It will also feature a craft room, music room, kitchen and laundry.
     “It will be at no cost to families,” said Shanna.
   “Once you have experienced using a hospice house for children, you know how much this is needed,” added Shanna.
    An estimated cost of the project was not available at this time, but plans are to raise enough money to purchase land, construct the building, purchase all needed equipment and to have operational funds to keep the facility in operation for the first two years.
     “We want to do this to help other children and their families who are going through this,” Shanna said. “That is what Mason would have wanted.”
      The goal is to open the facility in about two years.
   Shanna said the group is currently establishing 501(c)(3) status. Once all the paperwork is completed with the IRS, fundraising efforts will be underway.
     “We are going to hit the road running,” said Curtis. “Luckily, we have a lot of people ready to go out and get donations.”
     If you would like make a donation to Mason’s Light House, checks may be sent to Mason’s Light House, 1830 4th Ave., Grinnell, IA 50112.

Mason Sieck, 7, of Grinnell

Mason's Light House logo.