Tamara was born with a very rare muscle disorder known as arthrogryposis which results in severe joint limitations and generally affects the hands, wrists, elbows, hips, shoulders, feet and knees; it also often causes severe respiratory distress and extreme muscle weakness. Tamara’s particular condition is progressive. She has endured 12 surgeries so far in her young life with even more likely in the future. Tamara’s range of motion is extremely impaired and she is confined to a wheelchair.

Tamara is just crazy about Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and thinks he’s the best racer ever! At home, she never misses the chance to catch a race on television and cheer her idol on. Tamara never dreamed that she would actually get to go to a race – or better yet that she would ever meet Dale in person! This special girl learned that sometimes dreams really do come true!

Natalie has Long QT syndrome, which is a heart condition that causes arrhythmia and frequent fainting. Because of this, she has had both a pacemaker and a defibrillator implanted in her chest. Natalie loves watching NASCAR races and her greatest wish was to meet Dale Earnhardt, Jr. She never dreamed that this wish would ever come true, but it finally did with Kids Wish Network.

Natalie had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet up with her NASCAR hero before a weekend race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Upon arriving at the Speedway, Natalie and her family met many NASCAR greats including Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Newman, Richard Petty and crew chief “Bootie” Barker to name only a few. Pictures and autographs abounded while Natalie met them all and she could hardly believe it: “It was almost like I got to have more than one wish because of all the other drivers!” The entire wish had Natalie “revved up” all weekend and she finally learned that with Kids Wish Network, anything is possible.

When Mikey was born, doctors informed his parents that their little boy suffered from a serious medical condition called VATERL Syndrome, which is a term that describes a variety of problems related to a child’s vertebral, cardiac, trachea/esophageal and renal systems, and affect their limbs. As part of this condition, Mikey was born with Blue Baby Syndrome, and as the name suggests, Mikey’s heart did not function properly resulting in very low blood oxygen levels. As an infant, Mikey underwent a large intestine resection, and at just four months old he endured open-heart surgery. He was also born without a left thumb or the forearm bone that leads to it.

Through the outrageous generosity of Go Daddy.com, Mikey was given tickets to the big race and got to hang out in the special hospitality tent. There he met with WWE wrestling diva and “Go Daddy Girl”, Candice Michelle, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s teammate, Brad Keselowski, and he was the only child to have the privilege of sitting in one of Dale Jr.’s racecars. Mikey even got to take a guided tour of the pits where he witnessed the fast-paced action of the NASCAR world firsthand!

Of course, out of everything that Mikey experienced at the track, his favorite part of the trip was meeting the man himself, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Though he had lots to say to Dale Jr. beforehand, upon meeting him, Mikey was tongue-tied at first and just kept handing Mr. Earnhardt items, including a wooden car that he had made for Dale Jr., and things to autograph. By the end of the meeting however, Mikey overcame his fears and dashed after the famous driver as he got up to leave, grabbed Dale Jr. by the leg and gave him a big hug, proclaiming, “I love you, Junior!” This prompted a warm smile to light upon Mr. Earnhardt’s face as he reached down to pat the enthusiastic little boy on the back. “I love you too, buddy,” he said. It was truly an experience that Mikey and his family will never forget.

After meeting his hero, Mikey and his family watched the race, where he cheered his favorite driver on and was thrilled to witness the real-life speed of the racecars.

Mikey’s only wish was to meet Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and once again Dale, Jr. didn’t disappoint. Thanks to the Dale Jr. Foundation and Go Daddy.com, Mikey had the best weekend of his life! He not only got to meet his hero and share some time bonding at Dale’s mobile home; Mikey and his mom were VIP guests in the GoDaddy.com / Dale, Jr. Foundation Hospitality tent at the Darlington Raceway Southern 500 Race. As a surprise, Mikey also got to meet Dale’s racing partner, Brad Keselowski and WWE Diva/Go Daddy.com spokesperson, Candice Michelle. GoDaddy even furnished tickets to the race for Mikey and his family.

However, the best part of his wish was undoubtedly the special time that Mikey spent with his hero, Nascar Superstar, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Mikey and Dale bonded with talk about cars and Mikey gave Dale a Guardian Angel coin for luck. The best moment of all came when Dale got up to leave and Mikey hugged him exclaiming “I love you Dale, Jr.”, Dale reached down, patted Mikey on the back and told him, “I love you too, buddy”. Thank you Dale, for caring enough to make Mikey’s dream so special. A true American Hero, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Check one out at Paddock Talk, which is actually word for word as I wrote the press release.

The other one is in the Journal-News in Illinois and they’re sending a clipping to the office.

It’s exciting to see that your work is being published, but it’s even more exciting to know that these kids are happy to see their names in the papers!!! Rock on, Wish Kids! Rock on!

~Alicia
Editorial Department

The day began in the corporate offices of the Speedway where Natalie met her very own team of track ambassadors who were there to ensure that her wish was everything and more than she could possibly imagine and boy, did they come through!  Natalie had full access to everything at the track including the garage area where she met several other drivers who were working with their crews to ensure that their cars were ready for the big race on Sunday.  She met Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson, and the king himself, Richard Petty. 

The wish wasn’t over yet!  We went to Olive Garden for a celebratory dinner and the next day Natalie and her family went to the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca Cola. The wish culminated on Sunday with tickets to the race where Natalie cheered on her man!  We think number 88 is great!  Thanks, Dale!Special thanks to everyone who made this wish possible:  Mayor & Mrs. James Nix, VFW Ladies Auxiliary #4346, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Sheraton Suites Galleria, Olive Garden, McCormick & Schmicks, The Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca Cola, Stone Mountain Park, Mike Davis and special thanks to Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

Madeline (Wish Department Manager)

A professional fund raiser for Kids Wish Network called Vernon’s mother and upon hearing about Vernon, suggested she contact the wish granting organization’s headquarters in Oldsmar, Florida. As part of the process, Vernon was asked to describe his wish. Vernon loves Nascar racing and his bedroom is papered with pictures of his hero, Dale Earnhardt, Sr. It came as no surprise that Vernon’s only wish was to go to a Nascar race and meet his idol in person. He wrote a heart wrenching “please please” on the border of the page of the application describing his wish and vowed that if he got to shake hands with Dale, “he wouldn’t wash his hands for a long, long time.”

Thanks to the efforts of Kids Wish Network and the compassion of the racing star, Vernon’s wish came true when he and his family, along with Madeline Robinson, a Wish Coordinator for Kids Wish Network, traveled to San Francisco for a weekend of racing and a meet and greet with #3 himself, Dale Earnhardt, Sr.

Vernon not only got to shake hands with Earnhardt, but received an autographed photo, hat, and had a model car autographed. He even got to go behind the scenes for a first hand look at what racing is all about. The racing icon and the young boy share an interest in fishing and Vernon brought along a personally decorated fishing lure which he presented to Dale.

Meeting Dale Earnhardt was just the start. It was as though the whole city of San Francisco pulled together to make sure that this was a time that Vernon and his family would never forget. The travelers were treated to an in depth tour of Alcatraz and elegant lobster dinners at the Alcatraz Cafe and Neptunes Palace. Mr. Limo and Lorrie’s Limos provided limousine service which was a new and exciting experience for the family.. American Airlines provided round trip transportation and hotel accommodations were provided by Best Western Fisherman’s Wharf.

It was a magic time for Vernon and anyone seeing the constant smile on his face would have no doubt that dreams really do come true.

If you know of a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of wish granting services, please call (813) 891-9374 or toll free at (888) 918-9004.