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Lori K Cares: A Life-Changing Walk-In Shower Remodel in La Crosse, Indiana
- Lori K Cares & Lori K Bath
- La Crosse, Indiana
- One-Day Tub-to-Shower Remodel
Introduction
A bathroom remodel can change how a home looks, but sometimes its biggest impact is simply making everyday life a little easier.
For Nora Osornio-Luna and her family in La Crosse, Indiana, that was exactly the goal.
Nora became the very first recipient of Lori K Cares, a not-for-profit charity launched by the same two families who co-founded Lori K Bath. The program provides free tub-to-shower remodels for people in the community who are currently fighting cancer.
Nora had originally gone in for knee replacement surgery when she learned that she had cancer two years ago. As she continued her fight, her family nominated her for Lori K Cares in hopes of giving her a bathroom that would be safer and easier to use.
What followed was much more than a one-day bathroom remodel. It became a very special first chapter in the Lori K Cares story.
Project Summary
This Lori K Cares project included removing Nora’s existing bathtub and replacing it with a new white walk-in shower designed to improve accessibility and ease of use.
The finished shower included grab bars and a fold-down seat, giving Nora additional support and a more comfortable place to shower.
Lead Installer Jeff and Installer Apprentice Kaleb completed the entire transformation in just nine hours. Jeff has been with Lori K Bath from the very beginning and is one of the company’s most experienced installers when it comes to one-day bathroom transformations.
Recipient: Nora Osornio-Luna
Location: La Crosse, Indiana
Service: Tub-to-shower remodel through Lori K Cares
Installer team: Jeff and Kaleb
Completion time: 9 hours
Primary goals: Improve accessibility, make showering easier, and give Nora and her family one less thing to worry about during her fight with cancer
Project Summary
This bathroom remodeling project in Lakes of the Four Seasons included a complete update of an upstairs bathroom and a downstairs bathroom. The upstairs space moved away from an outdated tiled shower and toward a more accessible walk-in shower. Downstairs, the team removed the existing jetted tub and wall tile, repaired the drywall, and reframed the plumbing wall to accommodate the new 60-inch white soaking tub.
The project took eight to ten days to complete. Installer team Kyle and Dillon handled the work, while design consultant Roger helped the homeowners feel comfortable with the plan from the beginning.
Location: Lakes of the Four Seasons, Crown Point, Indiana
Service: Two full bathroom remodels
Installer team: Kyle and Dillon
Completion time: 8 to 10 days
Primary goals: Replace an unusable jetted tub, improve the bathroom layout, create a safer shower, and refresh both rooms
The Challenge
Nora’s circumstances made accessibility within the bathroom particularly important.
She had originally gone in for knee replacement surgery when she learned that she had cancer. With her family supporting her throughout her fight, they wanted to make one part of her everyday routine easier and give her a shower better suited to her needs.
When Nora’s family nominated her for the first Lori K Cares remodel, however, Nora initially declined.
She felt someone else needed it more.
It took a little convincing for Nora to accept that she deserved the remodel too. After she agreed, Ron met with Nora and her family personally. Hearing her story and getting to know the family confirmed that they could not have found a better person for the very first Lori K Cares project.
Main Challenges
- Replace the existing bathtub with a shower that was easier for Nora to access and use.
- Incorporate practical accessibility features that could provide additional comfort and support.
- Complete the transformation quickly to minimize disruption for Nora and her family.
- Create a bathroom that felt comfortable and beautiful while addressing the practical needs behind the remodel.
A Lori K Cares Story That Came Full Circle
There was another reason Nora’s project felt particularly special.
Nora lives in La Crosse, Indiana.
The late Lori Knoche was originally from La Crosse before moving to Valparaiso with Ron and their sons. Having the very first Lori K Cares recipient come from Lori’s hometown made the project a full-circle moment for the families behind Lori K Bath.
The personal connection continued throughout installation day.
Nora made food for the installers, sharing that she only cooks when she is feeling better and happy.
Her husband even moved the Lori K Cares sign Kaleb had placed outside, putting it closer to the street where more people passing by could see it.
Then he asked the team if they liked sweet corn. He returned with buckets of it and insisted that everyone take some home.
For a project created around caring for another family, Nora and her husband spent quite a bit of the day making sure the Lori K Bath team felt cared for too.
“They were incredibly hardworking, and we would trust them to work on anything in our house.”
Good to Know About Lori K Cares
Lori K Cares is a not-for-profit charity launched by the same two families who co-founded Lori K Bath.
The program was created to provide tub-to-shower bathroom remodels at no cost to selected recipients who are currently fighting cancer.
Lori K Bath personally donates at least two of these remodels each year, with plans to expand the charity by involving other people and companies that want to make a difference within the community.
Recipients can be nominated by their families, as Nora was, and the purpose extends beyond simply updating the appearance of a bathroom. The remodel is intended to provide a more accessible shower and remove one everyday concern while the recipient focuses on their health.
Our Solution
For Nora’s bathroom, Lori K Bath replaced the existing bathtub with a clean white walk-in shower.
Accessibility was central to the design.
Grab bars were installed to provide additional support, while a fold-down shower seat gave Nora the option to sit comfortably while showering.
Jeff and Kaleb handled the installation, completing the entire tub-to-shower transformation in nine hours.
Jeff has worked with Lori K Bath since the company’s beginning and has extensive experience completing one-day bathroom transformations. Kaleb worked alongside him as an Installer Apprentice, learning the process directly from one of Lori K Bath’s most experienced installers.
By the end of the day, Nora’s family had a completely transformed shower designed around accessibility, comfort, and ease of use.
Why Nora Was Chosen for the First Lori K Cares Remodel
Nora’s family nominated her for Lori K Cares while she was fighting cancer.
Her first instinct was to turn the opportunity down because she believed someone else needed it more.
That response was part of what made meeting Nora and her family so meaningful.
After Nora accepted the remodel, Ron had the opportunity to sit down with the family, hear Nora’s story, and learn more about what they had been experiencing.
It became clear that Nora represented exactly why Lori K Cares had been created.
Combined with the unexpected connection between Nora’s home in La Crosse and Lori Knoche’s roots in the same community, Nora’s project became an especially meaningful way to begin the Lori K Cares program.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Lori K Cares?
Lori K Cares is a not-for-profit charity launched by the same two families who co-founded Lori K Bath. The program provides free tub-to-shower remodels for selected people within the community who are currently fighting cancer.
2. How much did Nora's bathroom remodel cost her family?
Nothing. Nora received the tub-to-shower remodel as the first recipient of Lori K Cares, and the project was completed at no cost to her.
3. How long did Nora's tub-to-shower remodel take?
Nora’s entire transformation was completed in just nine hours by Lead Installer Jeff and Installer Apprentice Kaleb.
4. What accessibility features were included in Nora's new shower?
Nora’s new white walk-in shower included grab bars and a fold-down shower seat. These features were selected to make the shower easier and more comfortable for her to use.
5. How are Lori K Cares recipients selected?
Nora was nominated by her family for the program. After she accepted the opportunity, Ron met with Nora and her family, heard her story, and determined that she would become the first Lori K Cares recipient.
6. How many Lori K Cares remodels does Lori K Bath provide?
Lori K Bath personally donates at least two Lori K Cares remodels each year. The charity also plans to expand by giving other people and companies opportunities to become involved and support members of the community.
The Result
In just nine hours, Nora’s old bathtub was transformed into a beautiful white walk-in shower with grab bars and a fold-down seat.
The finished bathroom gave Nora and her family something practical: a shower designed to make accessibility and everyday use easier.
But the meaning of the project extended far beyond the bathroom itself.
Nora and her family loved the finished shower and shared that the experience “gives her a little hope to keep fighting during these difficult times.”
For Lori K Bath, the project also marked the beginning of something much bigger.
From discovering the connection between Nora’s hometown and Lori Knoche’s roots in La Crosse, to the food, sweet corn, conversations, and kindness shared throughout installation day, Nora’s remodel captured exactly what Lori K Cares was created to represent.
It was the first Lori K Cares bathroom transformation, but it certainly won’t be the last.
Learn More About Lori K Cares
Lori K Cares was created to support people within our community who are fighting cancer by providing bathroom transformations that can make everyday life a little easier.
Lori K Bath currently donates at least two Lori K Cares remodels each year, with plans to continue growing the program and welcoming others who want to become involved.
If you would like to learn more about Lori K Cares, nominate someone, or find out how you can support the program, contact Lori K Bath.
Service Areas
Lori K Bath serves:
- Lakes of the Four Seasons
- Crown Point
- Valparaiso
- Schererville
- St. John
- Merrillville
- Hobart
- Portage
- Chesterton
- Michigan City
- La Porte
- Mishawaka
- South Bend
- Elkhart
- Goshen
- Surrounding Northwest Indiana communities.