June 22nd, 2010
A young Tomball girl, Haley, suffering from a rare progressive brain condition, recently had her wish to visit Walt Disney World granted thanks to Kids Wish Network and several sponsors from Texas and Florida.
When Haley was born, she showed no brain activity and was kept in the hospital for three months. During that time, Haley was diagnosed with a rare condition, Progressive Basilar Invagination of the Spine. This condition causes the spine to calcify, effectively “strangling” the brainstem. Because of her condition, Haley has endured eight surgeries to the base of her skull and to the top of her spine to relieve the extreme pressure that builds up in her skull by chipping away at the bones in the area.
Due to the condition of her spine, Haley’s head movement is limited and required her to wear a halo device in order to keep her head straight; she was just recently able to remove the device. In addition, Haley also suffers from Spina Bifida, a birth defect in which the spinal column fails to close completely before birth, often resulting in paralysis. Because of this, Haley has no feeling in her legs, is confined to a wheelchair and must wear leg braces to straighten and stretch her legs.
While talking to a Kids Wish Network professional fundraiser, Haley’s grandmother mentioned the struggles her granddaughter has suffered through since her birth. The caller made note of Haley’s name and referred her to national children’s charity Kids Wish Network so that she might have a wish granted. The professionals at Kids Wish Network followed through and it wasn’t long before Haley was telling a Wish Coordinator that she wanted to see Disney World.
When asked why her daughter picked Disney World for her wish, Haley’s mother, Michelle, laughed and said, “She just absolutely loves Disney—Mickey Mouse, Minnie…everything about it, she loves. It’s just what she wanted.”
According to Michelle, from the start of the trip to coming home from Disney World, everything was wonderful for Haley and their entire family. While in Orlando, the family stayed at the Royal Plaza Hotel and enjoyed dinners every evening, thanks to the planning of Haley’s Wish Coordinator and the generosity of the sponsors.
During their four day stay in the Sunshine State, Haley and her family visited every park Haley had hoped to, including Universal Studios and Islands of Adventures, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot Center and the Magic Kingdom.
“It was all amazing,” said Michelle. “It was such a nice break from reality. The characters and staff everywhere, at the parks and at the restaurants, treated us like royalty. It was such a wonderful trip.”
Though everything was exciting for Haley, her biggest thrill came from meeting her favorite characters in person, including Mickey Mouse, the Disney princesses, the characters from Toy Story, Barney, Scooby Doo and Shaggy.
“Everything we did was amazing,” said Michelle of the trip. “The Monday before we left, we were in the emergency room because Haley was having head pain. It has just been such a hard time for us. This was a well-needed break. She (Haley) had the time of her life.”
Tomball Magnolia Tribune
Tomball, Texas
Published: 06/22/10
Source:
http://www.tribunenews.com/news/local-news/1178-tomball-girl-with-rare-disorder-gets-disney-world-wish-granted.html
Tags: Disney, florida, fun, travel, Trip, Walt Disney World, Wish
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March 16th, 2010
Brianna Bean, 7, of Findlay, recently visited Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios with a trip made possible by national children’s charity Kids Wish Network.
Brianna suffers from congenital heart disease. She was diagnosed with this life-threatening condition the day she was born. She has had numerous surgeries, her first when she was just 1 week old, including four heart catheterizations. More surgeries lie ahead.
Kids Wish Network’s mission is to infuse hope, create happy memories and improve the quality of life for children. The agency has served more than 73,000 children this year. Kids Wish Network is based in Holiday, Fla.
Brianna’s father, Michael Bean, said he initially heard about Kids Wish Network through his mailman who has a nephew who had a wish granted through Kids Wish Network. He said that his family had a great time on the wish trip.
The family stayed at the Royal Plaza Hotel in Orlando. Kids Wish Network and other sponsors set up dining arrangements.
“Without the businesses that gave us dinner and the hotel we would have never been able to do this,” Michael Bean said.
Though her wish trip is over, Michael Bean said it has left an impact on Brianna.
“It’s been a week and she is still talking about it,” he said. “Her wish definitely came true.”
The Courier
Findlay, Ohio
Published: 3/16/10
Source:
http://thecourier.com/family/2010/Mar/16/ar_fam_031610_story4.asp?d=031610_story4,2010,Mar,16&c=fam
Tags: Disney, family, fun, Wish Granted
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March 9th, 2010
Keagan is an intelligent 4-year-old boy who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy before his first birthday. He has severe quadriplegia and is unable to walk, hold his head up, or use his arms or legs. Keagan relies on assistance for the simplest tasks, including bathing and feeding himself. He has serious muscles spasms in his legs and receives Botox injections to help control them. Despite his struggles, his mom, Natalie, said Keagan is very smart and has a great sense of humor.
It wasn’t until her grandmother referred Keagan to Kids Wish Network that Natalie thought her son could possibly have a wish granted. But before long, Natalie was on the phone with a Kids Wish Network Wish Coordinator making plans for Keagan’s wish.
“I think we made a list up and we talked about all the characters that would be there [at the theme parks],” Natalie said. “He wanted to meet Mickey for his wish and he likes the characters and that’s how he decided.”
Kids Wish Network set up all the arrangements for Keagan’s wish. The entire wish trip was paid for, including round-trip flights for Keagan and his parents, meals, a hotel stay at the beautiful Royal Plaza, theme park tickets, a rental car and even spending money was included in Keagan’s wish. Natalie said the whole wish trip was amazing.
“It was all great. Everything that we did I could tell that it was all really planned out and organized,” she said.
While in Florida for the wish trip, the family visited The Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Natalie said Keagan liked Magic Kingdom the best and really enjoyed the shows they attended.
“We went to a Finding Nemo and Lion King show and he had a lot of fun. They got him involved with the Lion King show and took him out on stage in his stroller and he had the biggest smile,” she said.
Natalie said Keagan also enjoyed the meal provided at The Pirates Dinner Theater. The actors took pictures with Keagan after the show and made him feel special.
“He keeps on saying when he grows up he wants to be a pirate,” she said.
While Keagan enjoyed the sights and characters on his wish, the experience with Kids Wish Network meant something more to Natalie.
“To tell you the truth I didn’t know how he would react on his wish with all the excitement and I think my favorite part was seeing him smile so much. That was really great,” she said. “It was a really great experience.”
Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Keagan’s wish extra special: Greenville FOE #4321, Wyoming Moose Lodge #763, Royal Plaza, Wonderworks, Compassion Partners, Pirates Dinner Adventure, Backyard Burgers, Buca di Beppo
Vee 2
Atlanta, Georgia
Published: 03/08/10
Source:
http://www.vee2.net/world-news/47-world-news/4620-kids-wish-network.html
Tags: Disney, family, fun, granted, Wish
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February 12th, 2010
DOWNEY – A young boy who is recovering from a rare and painful illness has been awarded the Hero of the Month award through national charity Kids Wish Network and participating facility Kaiser Permanente in Bellflower.
Miguel Cabrera is a 6-year-old boy from Downey who was admitted to Kaiser Permanente with red, bloody blisters covering his body. He was originally thought to have Kawasaki’s disease, but the prognosis turned out to be Stevens-Johnsons Syndrome, an extremely rare condition which originates with flu-like symptoms and results in red blisters which cover your body and cause the top layer of the skin to die and shed.
The blisters were so severe that they developed in Miguel’s eyes and he temporarily lost his vision. Despite all the pain and hospitalization, Miguel’s mother said his condition is improving.
“He is doing better but he’s still in the healing process,” said Miguel’s mom, Norma. “Doctors said sometimes it takes a full year for recovery. My son endured a lot of pain. I will never forget the day he told me he didn’t want to die. It broke my heart into a million pieces.”
The staff at Kaiser Permanente in Bellflower decided to nominate Miguel as the Hero of the Month for his strength and courage.
“We wanted to choose him because what he went through was very difficult especially for a six year old,” said Miguel’s child life specialist at Kaiser. “He was better than an adult would be considering what he’s gone through. The whole family was amazing.”
The Kids Wish Network Hero of the Month program honors children aged 3-18 who have overcome a difficult or traumatic event and shown great courage in doing so. The recipients of the award are given a T-shirt, certificate and gift card valued between $200 and $500 depending on their age.
“It was such a joy to see our son overwhelmed with happiness. He is happy to know he is considered a Hero,” said Norma. “Miguel loves his award. He is so happy.”
Miguel’s gift card was valued at $200. Norma said that he hasn’t spent it yet, but is looking forward to doing so.
She said he keeps asking his family what they would like him to buy for them.
The Downey Patriot
Downey, California
Published: 02/12/10
Source:
http://www.thedowneypatriot.com/view/full_story/6072448/article-Sick-Downey-boy-honored-for-courage
Tags: family, fun, HERO, sick, Wish
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February 12th, 2010
Jeffretta Splunge was diagnosed at age 8 with a rare form of kidney disease, but that didn’t stop her from dreaming of the chance to see a movie star.
Although she didn’t see one in person, Jeffretta, now a Jefferson Davis High School junior, did get to see where the stars live when she and her family visited California late last month.
The trip to Disneyland and other tourist attractions near Hollywood was made possible through Kids Wish Network and the help of local agencies and groups.
Florida-based Kids Wish Network grants wishes to children ages 3 to 18 with life-threatening conditions, who never have had a wish granted before through any organization and who can communicate, by any means, their wish, coordinator Jill Atchison said.
Jeffretta was diagnosed with focal segmental glomulersclerosis, which causes severe scarring of the kidneys’ filtering system. In Jeffretta’s case, the disease affects both kidneys.
Although she has not had a kidney transplant yet, doctors have told her one is inevitable.
Jeffretta currently is taking 12 different medications to help control the disease, and her mother, Musette Hankins, said her daughter is doing well.
But Hankins thought a change of scenery would help her 16-year-old daughter cope better, so she contacted Kids Wish Network.
“She has just been through so much with being sick,” her mother said. “She deserves to get away.”
And get away she did. Her family, including her mother, father, three sisters and brother, spent five days in Hollywood and Anaheim, Calif.
Along with Disneyland, they visited Universal Studios, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Madame Tussauds of Hollywood wax museum.
“It was a lot of fun,” Jeffretta said. “We did a lot of things. My favorites were going to Disneyland and the walk of fame.”
Her mother had fun on the trip, too, but what she’s enjoyed most has been seeing a change in her daughter since they returned to Montgomery.
“My thing is before we went on the trip, she stayed in her room and didn’t want to go anywhere,” she said. Her mother said she has been going out more often now.
The trip gave Jeffretta and her family a chance to clear their heads, Hankins said.
“This gave her the uplift that she needed,” she said.
Montgomery Advertiser
Montgomery, Alabama
Published: 02/12/10
Source:
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100212/NEWS01/2120315/Groups+come+together+to+grant+Montgomery+teen+s+wish
Tags: california, Disney, disneyland, family, fun, wax museum, Wish
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