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Wishes Fulfilled
Beverly Martin
(770) 528-2620
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John Houser
(770) 499-3902
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We grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions
to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.
Wishes Fulfilled 2005
Archives: 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009Your contributions in 2005 helped make their dreams come true. We are delighted to have you share the power of a wish. Please continue to help us grant wishes – your contribution makes a big difference in the lives of these children. Here are the stories of children you have helped last year:
Eight-year old Will is a total baseball fanatic - the kind of fan who eats, sleeps, and breathes baseball. Diagnosed
with bone cancer in January 2003, he has been through several rounds of chemotherapy, surgery and rehabilitation that
would challenge any major league all star.
Will's wish allowed him to spend an entire weekend with his favorite pastime - attending a Major League Baseball All Star Game in Detroit. He was able to live out his dream of hanging out with several All Star players and to see Bobby Abreau set a major league record with 24 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby. What a wonderful celebration for Will, as he continues to be cancer free since his last chemo treatment in October 2003. For his parents, watching Will enjoy his dream weekend with his little sister was a wonderful reward for all the struggles their son has faced.
For 15-year-old Andrew, being granted a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation® was a wonderful surprise. But how
Andrew decided to use that wish was not a surprise to anyone who knows him. Three words: Walt Disney World!
Andrew, who suffers from a rare muscle disease known as nemaline myopathy,jetted off to the Magic Kingdom. There were fun excursions to Animal Kingdom, Universal Studios, Epcot, Sea World, and MGM. But for Andrew, the Disney memories are the ones he’ll remember the most. In addition to riding every ride he could find, Andrew got to meet his favorite Disney cartoon characters, including Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Goofy, and Chip and Dale. He also got to ride in the parade with Mickey Mouse himself! His most cherished memory, however, was his up-close-and-personal meet-and-greet with Daisy Duck! According to mom, it was an “awesome moment” for Andrew, and one that moved her son to tears. For someone who has to deal with ventilators, wheelchairs and constant daily medical care, this trip was a long overdue respite and a blessing for his family to share with him.
For five-year-old Ben, a Disney cruise with his family was an experience far
beyond his expectations. Each day of the cruise was full of excitement and unbridled
fun.
In fact, although Ben had a chance to meet Mickey Mouse in person, he was so busy with all the activities that he never did make it to the meeting with Mickey! The crew “spoiled them rotten, and they loved every minute of it,” Ben’s mom said. “At every turn Disney offered us so many new experiences that we didn’t have time to take it all in.” But it was not for a lack of trying. The boys hit the ground running and went to bed late every night. “To see him and his brother Jeremy that ecstatic truly made my heart melt,” she said.
Ben’s wish allowed the family to share so much fun and quality time together, creating wonderfully fond memories for Ben and his family that they will enjoy forever. It was truly a dream come true.
Jack is a happy, joy-filled four-year-old boy who teaches the world to smile. Incredible
words when you consider that one Sunday afternoon Jack was taken to an
ER with what his mom thought was a dislocated shoulder, only to find out he had
several tumors inside his body. A subsequent diagnosis confirmed their worst fears:
Jack had Stage IV neuroblastoma throughout his body, including in his spine, pelvis,
lungs and skull.
Still, Jack continues to smile like every day is his birthday. When Jack was granted a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, the young dinosaur lover knew just what he wanted - a trip to Walt Disney World to meet Lucky the Dinosaur, an animatronics dinosaur new to the park he had seen on the Disney Web site. Jack got to have a one-on-one with Lucky the Dinosaur and even tickle the big monster’s chin! Making his new friend chuckle when he tickled his chin was the thrill of a lifetime for Jack! For Jack’s parents, watching their son light up like fireworks on the fourth of July was the most beautiful thing they had ever seen.
Jacob is one of those kids who can see the humor and the upside of any situation, including his own. This bright, easy
going 17-year-old was born with a heart defect that caused the need for three open-heart surgeries before he turned
two. Last year, doctors discovered another problem - Protein Losing Enteropathy,
which eventually led to a heart transplant in December 2004.
During his recovery, Jacob became a huge fan of the Food Network, particularly Food Network chef celeb Paula Deen. When Jacob was granted a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, it was to meet Paula. Not only did Paula agree to meet Jacob, she invited the family to her house on Tybee Island to have Jacob help her prepare one of her signature meals! Jacob also enjoyed a tour of the Tybee Island lighthouse where he tested his new heart by climbing all 178 steps to the top!
When asked what her Make-A-Wish Foundation® wish would be, 11-year-old
Laura had lots of ideas. After careful consideration, Laura, who was diagnosed
with Renal Failure, decided that her number one wish would be to have a behind
the scenes tour at Disney World!
Laura and her family boarded a plane to Orlando and spent six magical days visiting the Disney parks. On the day when Laura visited the Magic Kingdom, she was met by a Disney tour guide who took her on a “Keys to the Kingdom” tour designed especially for her! She learned how the Disney attractions work and how the Cast Members get to their work locations using both on-stage and backstage areas. She also saw how lighting, costumes, and other attention to details contribute to the success of Disney’s attractions’ and ultimately to their guests’ enjoyment. Laura’s wish resulted in a wonderful adventure for her entire family that they will never forget.