In a time of nationwide economic struggles, it is often difficult for the wish funding specialists at Kids Wish Network to find sponsors to help fund the wishes they hope to grant. The wishes represent the very special dreams entrusted to the organization by children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

Doris McNitt, a funding specialist for the Kids Wish Network trying to obtain wish funding for a Holly child contacted the Holly Moose Lodge and was put in contact with Gerry Murphy, the lodge’s governor.

“Doris called to let me know about the wish and I had to tell her that I would bring it up at our next meeting,” Murphy said. “And we decided to try – we just have a bunch of good people here.”

Board members Bruce Hammond and Terry Baker agreed. “We were able to raise the money in a month’s time,” Hammond said. “We all just pulled together and made it happen.”

Within that month, the Holly Moose Lodge raised over $3,000, enough to fund the child’s only wish to visit Disney World in Florida. Murphy said the money was raised through a variety of fundraisers including dinners and a gun raffle sponsored by the Moose Lodge.

“Gerry Murphy went above and beyond for the (wish) family which is a lot in this day and age,” McNitt said. “He did such an awesome job – I hope the community of Holly knows what a tremendous person they have in their midst.”

Thanks to the Murphy and members of the Holly Moose Lodge, a wish has been granted.

“That’s just what we at the Holly Moose Lodge do here in our community,” a humble Murphy said. “Doing this just makes you feel good and want to do more.”

The Holly Express
Holly, Michigan
Published: 10/05/10
Source:

http://www.thehollyexpress.com/community/features/905-holly-moose-help-grant-local-childs-wish

Alexander was born with congenital complete third degree A-V heart block. This is a very serious condition whereas the heart’s electrical signal doesn’t pass from the upper chambers of the heart to the lower chambers. Essentially, this causes the heart to beat at an extremely low rate. Living with this condition has been very challenging and difficult for Alexander and just last August, doctors had to perform emergency surgery on him and implant a pacemaker. In addition, Alexander has mild paralysis on his left side.

This special little guy had the time of his life on his exciting trip to Hawaii. During his time in Honolulu, Alexander went surfing and swimming, rode in a catamaran and a submarine, took a helicopter tour of the island and went swimming with dolphins! Wow – what a trip!

Alexandria was diagnosed at two-years-old with a heart condition known as restrictive cardiomyopathy. Restrictive cardiomyopathy refers to a group of disorders in which the heart chambers are unable to fill with blood properly. In addition, Alexandria suffers from pulmonary hypertension and recently underwent a heart transplant. Since her transplant, she must visit her doctors frequently and have a heart biopsy once a month so they can be sure that her body doesn’t reject her new heart. Alexandria also has severe scoliosis and has had a number of back surgeries.

Like many girls her age, Alexandria is a huge fan of the Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zach and Cody! She absolutely couldn’t believe it when she got her wish to meet the show’s stars, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, in person!

Dalton is a 13-year-old boy who is battling various life-threatening illnesses. At 20-months-old, he was diagnosed with persistent severe asthma, obstructive sleep apnea and severe allergies. His asthma is so bad that oftentimes he is not able to get air back into his lungs when he breathes. He takes steroids to help regulate his asthma and the steroids have caused various side effects including high blood pressure and depression. Dalton has over 100 allergies and has to be monitored while sleeping due to his sleep apnea.

Dalton loves his brand new Alienware gaming laptop! His mom said he was so excited when he found out he was getting his wish and the whole family patiently awaited it’s arrival. She said it was so great getting to watch her son’s wish come true and that Dalton couldn’t be happier!

In March of 2008, Christina and her parents noticed that her smile appeared to be crooked. Upon visiting her doctor, Christina was immediately sent to the hospital for an MRI, and a golf ball-sized tumor was found between her brain and brain stem. She had surgery a few days later, which removed most of the tumor that had adhered to Christina’s Auditory Nerve. This resulted in hearing loss in her left ear, balance issues and permanent left side paralysis. Although the majority of the tumor was removed, there remains a strong likelihood that it will grow back; Christina receives an MRI every three months to ensure that no new growth has occurred.

Christina and her mother, Diane, were sitting at home just two days after her release from the hospital, when a professional fundraiser called from Kids Wish Network. When the fundraiser asked Diane if she knew of any children who were living with life threatening illnesses, she told Christina’s story.

“I think it was really divine intervention,” Diane said.

Kids Wish Network Wish Coordinator Jill contacted the family and got to work to find out what Christina’s number one wish would be. Christina decided that she wanted to go parasailing over the Pacific Ocean.

“I was trying to think of things I wouldn’t get the chance to do. Parasailing looked really fun and I always wanted to try it. I also wanted to see the Pacific Ocean,” Christina said.

With the help of wish funding specialist Megan, Jill worked to arrange the entire trip for Christina and her parents. A round-trip flight, limo ride, hotel stays, dinners, a ride on a high-speed catamaran, an eco-tour across Catalina Island, a Flying Fish boat ride, spa treatment and even a boogie boarding excursion were also included in Christina’s wish.

“It was so beyond our expectations. Everyone took such great care of us,” Diane said.

Christina said that her favorite part of the whole trip was the parasailing experience.

“It was so amazing. I felt like I was floating and I could see forever,” she said.

Diane said she was a little nervous about parasailing, but she got over it after a few minutes. For her, the best part was the Jeep Eco Tour that the family went on.

“It was so personal and not a lot of people could do it. The guide was an amazing man and had so much knowledge to share. We spent four hours on the tour and were 10 feet from a real live buffalo. We saw an endangered Island Fox, a Bald Eagle, a Golden Eagle and so much more. It was beautiful,” she said.

All-in-all, the family said that they had a wonderful time.

“Everything was absolutely perfect,” Diane said. “We had the most amazing time and we are so grateful for the experience.”

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Christina’s wish extra special: Catalina Island Conservancy, Flying Fish Boat Trip, Descanso Beach Club, Deanna Stone Bodyworks, Avalon Massage-Lavina Jones, Parasailing Catalina, Catalina-Marina Del Rey Flyer, Catalina Island Inn, Rits-Carlton Marina Del Rey, Steve’s Steakhouse, Landry’s Limousine, Armstrong’s Seafood Restaurant, Cheesecake Factory, Catalina Transportation Services Inc., Belle River Community Credit Union, Fraternal Order of Eagles #3702, Richmond Kiwanis Club, Richmond Moose Lodge #2575, New Image Dental, St. Augustine Church.

Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org