OC Woman Who Beat Cancer 3 Times Invited To Decorate White House For Holidays
NEWPORT BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A decorator from Orange County, who fought and defeated Cancer three times, has been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — to decorate a room in the White House for the holidays.
Patty Goethals underwent countless rounds of radiation, having been diagnosed with cancer on three separate occasions. Her husband of 38 years, Tom, stuck by her through all three ordeals, and decided it was time to act to make one of her biggest dreams become a reality.
"I said 'how fun would this be'," Patty said. "What a dream; to be able to decorate the White House."
Tom wrote to the White House for three straight years, working to make that dream come true.
"I said something like 'I know it's a little early, but I want to be the first to nominate somebody for next year'," Tom said.
Just before Thanksgiving of 2014, Patty received word from the White House, stating her invitation.
For nearly two weeks, the interior designer from Orange County decorated the state dining room at the White House, where she met Michelle Obama, and left her signature for all holiday visitors to see.
While Patty was able to realize a dream she never thought would happen, her cancer has been in remission for six years.
