A little girl with a life-threatening lung condition has her wish to meet the cast and crew of the TV show NCIS granted by national children’s charity Kids Wish Network and gracious sponsors.

Kasey is only 11 years old and she has already overcome more obstacles in her life than most adults. You see, Kasey was born with a condition called cystic fibrosis.

This condition clogs her lungs, pancreas and air passages with thick mucus, often causing severe lung damage. Every day, Kasey endures about two hours of special treatments to help her breathe. She is in and out of the hospital frequently, follows a strict daily medication regimen and has had to take pancreatic enzymes. Kasey has also undergone several nasal surgeries and struggles with chronic sinus infections.

Kasey was given the chance to wish for anything she wanted through national children’s charity Kids Wish Network. They recently granted a wish for her older brother, Jacob, who met the Seattle Seahawks football team. When a Kids Wish Network wish coordinator asked Kasey what her fondest dream was, she replied that she wanted to meet the cast of her favorite TV show, NCIS.

Through the generosity of some wonderful local sponsors as well as sponsors in California, Kasey, her parents and her older brother were given a fantastical wish trip to Hollywood that included dinners every evening; accommodations at the famous Renaissance Hollywood hotel; trips to Universal Studios, the Hollywood Wax Museum and the Guinness World of Records Museum; and, of course, a day on the set of CBS’ hit show, NCIS.

“The wish was really amazing,” said Kasey’s mother, Lisa. “It was an experience of a lifetime.”

When they first arrived in Hollywood, Kasey and her family visited the Hollywood Wax Museum and the Guinness World of Records Museum. At the Wax Museum, their tour guide took a special interest in Kasey and, having heard of her affinity for collecting quarters, presented Kasey with a special foreign coin.

Although the first day was fun, the family’s second day in Hollywood was the best of all; it was the day they visited the set of NCIS.

After a ride from their hotel to the CBS studios in a limousine, Kasey and her family were treated to a special in-depth tour of the different sets and backlots and they watched the cast film plenty of scenes for an upcoming episode of NCIS. Of course, what excited Kasey the most was meeting the actors who play her favorite characters. On set that day were Mark Harmon, Mike Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Sarah Jane Morris and David McCallum’s double, Fred L. Tate.

Each and every star treated Kasey like she was a part of the cast. She was given special tours by Mark Harmon and Mike Weatherly of their onscreen desks and Mike Weatherly even put a gift given to him by Kasey into the drawer so that she could see it in the show later on. Fred Tate presented Kasey with a book of his short stories that he signed just to her and Kasey was also given tons of signed photographs, all sorts of NCIS gear and even a very special NCIS golf shirt.

According to Lisa, “Kasey was just glowing! She was over the moon! Everyone, from the cast to the crew members, made her feel like she was a part of the team. They made her feel so special that it was hard for her to leave the set! It was amazing!”

After such an exciting day, the rest of the trip was just icing on the cake for Kasey. She loved every minute she spent at Universal Studios Hollywood the next day and had a blast eating special s’mores at the Saddle Ranch Chop House later that evening.

When it was time to leave and head home to Washington , even Lisa admits that it was difficult.

“We’re a little sad that it’s over, but it’s neat to watch NCIS at home and remember our day there on the set. It was an amazing experience and we are so grateful for everything that was done for us. This is something that Kasey will never forget. Thank you so very much.”

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Lindsey’s wish extra special: The cast and crew of NCIS; Bob Baga; Woodmen of the World Lodge 84; Woodmen of the World Lodge 35; Renaissance Hollywood; Midway Car Rental; Universal Studios Hollywood; Saddle Ranch Chop House; The Grill on Hollywood; and Hollywood Wax Museum.

Cote-de-Pablo.com
Source:
http://cote-de-pablo.com/ncis-cast-grants-special-wish/

Dylan is a bright teen with a passion for playing music and watching WWE wrestling; he is in his school’s marching band, plays guitar and collects wrestling memorabilia. Dylan also loves watching comedic movies, especially ones starring Jim Carrey. His favorite subject in school is math and he also enjoys playing video games on his game systems.

When he was four months old, Dylan was diagnosed with having a condition called cystic fibrosis. This illness causes thick mucus to build up and clog the lungs, which can lead to life-threatening lung infections. Dylan must endure daily treatments with a percussion vest to break up the mucus as well as take daily enzyme treatments to stop the buildup.

For his wish, Dylan wants to meet his favorite WWE Superstar, Triple H. Get ready to get in the ring, Dylan, because your wish is about to come true!

Wish: Meet Triple H
Wish Type: Celebrity

Jake was born with cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening lung condition, and has been in and out of the hospital constantly since he was born. He must take daily medications, endures nebulizer and breathing vest treatments and is currently on IV antibiotics.

One of the things that helps Jake cope is watching football, especially when the Seattle Seahawks are playing. So, when he was given the chance to have a wish granted through national children’s charity Kids Wish Network, it came as no surprise that he wanted to meet his all-time favorite football team in person.

“It was amazing,” said Jake’s mother, Lisa, of her son’s wish. “This [wish] just gave him a chance to be a kid for once. He and his sister [who also has cystic fibrosis] go through so much – this was an amazing chance for them.”

Through the generosity of several local sponsors in Bellevue and Seattle, Jake was given the perfect weekend wish that included accommodations at the luxurious Hotel 1000, dinners each evening, a trip to the EMP Museum, a Duck boat ride and, of course, a chance to tour the Seattle Seahawks’ practice facility along with a meet-and-greet with the players. He also got fantastic seats at the Seahawks game against Cincinnati Bengals.

“I don’t know how it could’ve been better,” said Lisa. “It was such a thrill for Jake to see behind the scenes on the tour [of the practice facility], and meeting the team was something he’ll never forget.”

After watching the Seahawks prepare for their game against the Bengals, Jake saw the team heading his way when he heard a voice yelling, “Jacob! Jacob!” He looked around and called out, “Here I am!” and saw that the voice belonged to none other than his favorite player, Marshawn Lynch.

Running over to Jake, Lynch presented him with his own practice-worn gloves and a personalized jersey for Jake with his name on it along with Marshawn’s number, which he happily signed. Marshawn and the rest of the team also gave Jake a bag full of Seahawks gear and signed autographs, posed for pictures and just hung out with the beaming little boy.

According to Lisa, Jake was so in awe that it lasted through the night and he couldn’t wait for the big game the next day. “In fact, I think he slept with his helmet that night,” she said.

When Jake and his family arrived at the field for the game the following morning, the VIP treatment continued nonstop. They were greeted when they arrived and escorted down to the sidelines to meet the Seahawks mascot and hang out with the Seahawks cheerleaders, the Sea Gals, who gave Jake’s sister, Kasey, an official Sea Gals pom pom. During the game, the family had seats in the end zone and Jake even got the chance to meet Jacob Green, a retired Seahawk with the same exact name. For Jake, the whole wish was absolutely perfect in every way.

“I don’t even know how it could’ve been better,” said Lisa. “The look on Jake’s face was incredible – he was just glowing. Everyone was just so kind and the Seahawks paid so much attention to him … it was a significant event in all of our lives and we will remember this for a long, long time. Thank you so much.”

Others who helped make the wish come true included Woodmen of the World lodge 35 & lodge 84; Bizxchange; Hotel 1000; EMP Museum; Ride the Ducks of Seattle; Space Needle; and McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant.

Bellevue Reporter
Bellevue, Washington
Source:
http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/133269333.html

His grandmother and guardian Linda said Gage had been increasingly sick for the last year and lost 15 pounds.

At the age of 1, Gage was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a condition that includes a group of disorders affecting both the brain and nervous system functions. The disease impairs activities such as movement, hearing, sight and thinking. Gage, now a teenager, has since been diagnosed with epilepsy, quadriplegia and inflammation of the esophagus.

“He had surgery when we came back from the cruise, and I’d postponed the surgery because I didn’t want it that close to that trip,” Linda said. “We postponed things so we could get the trip in.”

Gage had a feeding tube inserted to get his weight up, and Linda said while in the hospital, he repeatedly watched video of them swimming with the dolphins on their vacation. She said it lifted his spirits.

“That’s what got us through the hospital is the video of swimming with the dolphins,” Linda said. “I played that over and over.”

Linda said she applied to the Kids Wish Network after a woman from the organization called seeking a donation. Linda said she’d donated in the past, but since she was laid off from her job in 2002, she didn’t have extra money to donate.

This time, however, she asked how to apply, and Gage’s wish was granted.

She said Gage always had wanted to go on a cruise. She said he loves boats and the show “The Suite Life on Deck,” a television show about two teenagers close to Gage’s age who live on a cruse ship.

In September the charity flew Linda and Gage to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where they were picked up by a Hummer limousine. The family visited Key West before docking in Cozumel, Mexico.Carnival cruise line offered Gage an unforgettable excursion in which he got to meet and swim with dolphins.

One dolphin, a male used previously for therapy, took to Gage instantly. Watching Gage with the dolphin was “heartwarming,” Linda said.

Linda said the Carnival staff treated her and Gage like royalty, ensuring they had special desserts brought to their room every night and showering them with gifts. She said she believes the Kids Wish Network is one of the best charities out there.

She said as they stepped off the boat to come home to Merrimac, Gage said, “I want to do it again.”

“I told him we’d get a jar and begin saving our nickels and dimes,” Linda said.

Sauk Prairie Eagle
Merrimac, Wisconsin
Source:
http://www.wiscnews.com/saukprairieeagle/news/local/article_15e309d6-f504-11e0-a7fa-001cc4c002e0.html

Tessa Anderson, 13, has spina bifida, a birth defect that occurs when a portion of the spinal column fails to develop and close properly.

Her mother, Sarah, referred her daughter to the national children’s charity Kids Wish Network. Tessa had wished for a trip to Disneyland, in Anaheim, Calif.

Along with suffering from spina bifida, she also battles massive hydrocephalus, which is where the cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the skull. That condition requires Tessa to have a shunt — a surgically placed tube that allows the excess fluid to be released out of the brain — and she likely will need it for the rest of her life. Tessa has experienced seven brain surgeries as well as a surgery to close her spinal column.

“On more than one occasion tears came to my eyes because of how special they (the wish sponsors) made her feel. When people see Tessa, they know that she is special,” said Sarah, upon her and Tessa’s return from California.

The family was treated to a stay in San Diego, Calif., at the Catamaran Resort & Spa. At Disneyland, Tessa got Chip & Dale’s autograph, and at SeaWorld, she got kisses from a walrus through the display glass.

WCF Courier
Waterloo, Iowa
Source:
http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/local-girl-s-dream-comes-true-with-trip-to-disney/article_2e7afc0e-ca12-59c4-9ead-5683a824709f.html

The family recently returned from Disney World as part of Dalton Burner’s wish to meet his favorite characters: Phineas and Ferb.

The family of five made the trip under the cloud of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, a rare cancerous soft-tissue tumor that had grown in Dalton’s left calf muscle.

His mother, Melissa, said the trip was a dream come true for her son, who was diagnosed with cancer in February 2010, when he was 5 years old.

At the time, Dalton was your typical kid: he loved playing sports and being outside. Since he was young, however, Dalton had complained of a pain in his calf, something that his parents and doctors attributed to growing pains.

“Our other boys went through the same thing,” Melissa said. “We didn’t think it was weird or out of the ordinary in any way.”

One evening, while visiting with friends, a friend of the family compared Dalton’s legs by touch. One leg was unmistakably larger in diameter than the other. The family was left to wonder over the weekend what the significance of their find was, and on Monday, they made an appointment to check on it.

They had an ultrasound done and the physician agreed to meet with the family after hours.

“My heart stopped when the secretary said he wanted to meet with us,” she said. “It was difficult to believe, especially because it’s so rare in adults and almost unheard of in children.”

There was indeed a growth on Dalton’s calf muscle, and the family quickly put Dalton into radiation therapy for five weeks. As part of the therapy, Dalton’s white blood cells decreased, leaving him susceptible to colds and general illness. By the end of the treatment, the growth had shrunk. In May 2010, the tumor was removed by surgery. Having become intertwined in the muscles of his calf, surgeons had to remove muscle, some nerves and part of a ligament as well.

Five months later, before returning for a routine examination, the family found not one new tumor but two – one the size of a marble, the other the size of a golf ball.

“That shows how fast the tumor can grow,” she said.

Through chemotherapy, both tumors were reduced in size over a period of months and Dalton has been cancer free.

“We were all lucky because many of our friends have it so much worse,” she said. “But Dalton was a champ through it all.”

Her son has since returned to being a little boy, which includes playing soccer and T-ball. He returns to the hospital every three months and, if there are no tumors, every six months.

To add to the difficulties, Melissa suffered a cardiac arrest in April 2011. While genetic in nature, she does attribute – at least partially – the condition to the stress the family was under.

“We put my husband through the ringer, that’s for sure,” she said. “Luckily I had the attack on a Saturday morning.”

During the family’s fight, a distant relative of Melissa’s told the Kids Wish Network about Dalton, and the organization emailed the family. Representatives there asked them what Dalton wished for, and Disney World topped the list. A close second was to visit Denver to see the Denver Broncos play football.

Dalton chose Disney World and meeting his favorite cartoon characters, Phineas and Ferb.

To help fund the trip, the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 2131 held a fish-fry fundraiser.

“This was one of those things where we were looking forward to getting away from it all, and we did,” she said. “We all had a great time.”

Now what does Dalton have to say about his experience, one that few kids his age undergo?

“I wasn’t scared at all,” he said plainly, then recants. “I was scared.”

He’s not so much scared now, though, not with the memories of Disney World and the characters he met there.

“I liked meeting them a lot,” he said of Phineas and Ferb, adding that his next wish is to visit Gator Land in Florida.

In addition to meeting the cartoon characters, the three brothers were invited on stage during the Pirates Dinner Adventure and sworn in as official pirates.

Blue Springs Examiner
Blue Springs, Missouri
Source:
http://www.examiner.net/news/x26165492/Martin-Dalton-s-Disney-wish-granted

She sat in her sparkly princess dress at the Bippity Boppity Boutique while Cinderella styled her hair and painted her nails. The royal treatment was in preparation for Cinderella’s Royal Dinner and Ball, where she would dance with Prince Charming.

It wasn’t a fairytale. The 4-year-old, cancer survivor and her mother, Katie Woolsey, and sister Mikaella, 1, spent five August days at Disney World after the Kids Wish Network granted her wish.

They rode the rides, visited with Cinderella, spotted Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse and spent time at Sea World, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom.

“I found Goofy,” Emma said, “but I didn’t find Pluto or Daisy. We rode the Dumbo Ride and the Magic Carpet ride. It was flying all around! Whee!

“And we went on a water ride to cool off.”

Once upon a time, Emma’s mom wasn’t so sure her daughter’s story would have such a happy ending.

‘Something just wasn’t right’

When Emma was 6-months-old, her mother noticed a problem with her right eye.

“It didn’t move with her other eye when it was supposed to,” said Katie Woolsey, of Lebanon. “I brought it to her pediatrician’s attention because I was worried.”

Her pediatrician diagnosed it as a lazy eye, Katie said. She took Emma home and life went on as usual, even through Katie still worried about her daughter’s eye. It didn’t seem to be getting any better.

By the time Emma was 15 months old and walking, Katie knew something was definitely wrong. Emma couldn’t walk at all without holding on to furniture or clinging to walls.

“I knew something just wasn’t right,” Katie said. “She should have been walking by herself and she just wasn’t. So I took her back to her pediatrician. He took one look at her eye and immediately sent us to Children’s in St. Louis.”

On Jan. 13, 2009, doctors at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis diagnosed bilateral retinoblastoma, a rare cancer that affects approximately one in every 15,000 children. Cancerous tumors were growing on Emma’s optic nerve and she could see nothing out of her right, bright blue eye.

“She couldn’t walk right because she was blind in that eye,” Katie said. “My daughter couldn’t see.”

The eye had to be removed shortly after the initial diagnosis. Then six months of chemotherapy started.

“They had to take it out or it would have spread to her brain,” Katie said. “She has 20/20 vision in her left eye.”

Without treatment, 98 percent of patients with bilateral retinoblastoma die when the cancer spreads to the brain, according to the Digital Journal of Ophthalmology at the Harvard Medical School.

The road to recovery

Emma has been in remission for two years, her mother said, but the prosthetic right eye has already been replaced a couple of times to keep up with Emma’s growing skull. It will be replaced several more times before Emma is an adult and regularly replaced her entire life as the surface of the prosthetic wears down.

“Replacing the prosthetic has not been a fun process at all,” Katie said. “But she’s doing good. We still have to go in for checkups to make sure the cancer is gone and it will be like that for a long time.”

The prosthetic eye matches her remaining eye so closely, a casual observer wouldn’t notice the blond, energetic, talkative pre-schooler has an ocular replacement. The prosthetic is attached to a permanent implant in her eye socket that allows the eye to move naturally and in unison with her other eye.

The time of her life

Katie wasn’t surprised when Emma chose Disney World as her wish.

Cinderella is Emma’s favorite princess. Why?

“Because she is,” Emma said. “I like Cinderella and I like Dora.”

She’s getting out of her Dora phase and now it’s all about princesses,” Katie said. “She was excited to go and see Cinderella.”

Emma’s appointment with Cinderella came early one early morning before the park officially opened.

“We got there and it was so quiet because no one was in the park yet,” Katie said. “It was very neat to be able to walk around the park before it opened. That was really special for us.”

Prince Charming asked her to dance during the ball. And Emma discovered that Cinderella’s wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters weren’t all that bad.

“I saw Cinderella’s evil stepmom but she was nice,” Emma said. “And I saw the stepsisters. They were characters.”

At Sea World, Emma “saw dolphins and whales and dolphins and more dolphins,” she said. “I like dolphins.”

It’s a trip Emma and her family will never forget.

“We had a great, great time,” Katie said. “Emma loved it. We all had a wonderful time.”

The Kids Wish Network

What: A national charitable organization dedicated to creating happy memories and improving the quality of life for children who have experienced life-altering situations. Its programs — including granting wishes, providing gifts and books and designating heroes — have helped more than 73,000 children this year.

Local assist: Several local organizations, including Illinois River Energy, the Lebanon Lions Club, Belleville American Legion Post 58 and the Lebanon Women’s Club pitched in to help make Emma’s trip to Disney World memorable.

Belleville News Democrat
Belleville, Illinois
Source:
http://www.bnd.com/2011/09/12/v-print/1854048/for-this-4-year-old-girl-its-a.html

He’s a loyal New York Yankees fan who idolizes shortstop Derek Jeter, and he had long dreamed of seeing a game in Yankee Stadium.

That wish recently came true, and Mason got to see a much better game than he even imagined. It was a bright spot in what had been a tough year.

Mason, 12, of Muhlenberg Township was recently found to have a tumor in the right frontal lobe of his brain. He was having seizures as a result, and doctors feared that he might have cancer.

Knowing Mason was facing a potentially bleak prognosis, his mom, Aime Crawford, contacted Kids Wish Network.

The group granted Mason’s wish, which was prime seats at Yankee Stadium for him; his mom; his brother, Ethan Kosmoski, 10; and his stepfather, Eric Crawford, at the game July 9.

It was an awesome weekend from the start, with a penthouse suite in the fancy 70 Park Avenue Hotel, where their room was decorated with Yankees memorabilia and presents for Mason, who received chocolate milkshakes from room service.

A stretch limousine took them to the game, where Mason was to meet Jeter. But the previous night’s game was rained out, setting the stage for Jeter to become the first Yankee to reach 3,000 hits that day, and drawing scores of media. So the two shared a smile before a surge of reporters came between them, and Mason instead got autographs from other Yankee stars.

They took their seats just a few rows behind home plate and got to see Jeter play the best regular season game of his career in front of a frantic crowd.

Jeter singled his first time up, bringing him to 2,999 hits. His second time up he hit a home run, reaching the 3,000-hit club in style and sending the fans into a frenzy.

“Mason was just in awe,” his mom said.

Jeter ended the day with five hits in five at bats, including the game-winner.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mason smile as much as he did that day,” Aime said.

The best moment for Mason, though, was yet to come.

On July 27, he had brain surgery to remove the tumor, a procedure that went remarkably well. When Mason woke up in the hospital after the surgery, covered in his Yankees blanket, he immediately started talking about Jeter, a relief to his family.

The tumor was benign, and his recovery was fast. Even the autism he was diagnosed with has lessened since the surgery, Aime said.

Mason soon will start seventh grade at Muhlenberg Middle School and will play for the Berkshire Red Sox in the spring.

Soon a Yankees jersey and a ball autographed by Jeter will come in the mail.

And now when he watches his hero on television, he thinks back on the great day he spent with him.

“It was the most amazing weekend,” Aime said.

The Reading Eagle
Reading, Pennsylvania
Source:
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=326166

Shalyn Nelson, 9, was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, an aggressive form of cancer typically found in adults.

For two years, she has endured “lots of pokes,” chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, but last week the needles were no more as she met singer and Disney Channel actress Selena Gomez in Clearwater, Fla.

Shalyn Nelson and her family met the actress and singer backstage of her concert, where they talked, took pictures and Shalyn Nelson gave the Disney Channel star a gift basket, which included a tiger bobblehead, bracelets, a picture of Shalyn and some Bath & Body Works lotions.

“We felt pretty lucky that she got to go and meet her and get a picture taken,” said Shalyn’s mom, Sandra Nelson. “It was pretty special. She was beside herself.”

Shalyn Nelson got the opportunity to meet Gomez after the wife of her father’s boss referred her case to the Kids Wish Network, an organization that grants wishes to children ages 3 to 18 living with life-threatening conditions.

Jill Atchison, manager of the Wish Department at Kids Wish Network, said she sent the application for a wish to Nelson and began working as her wish coordinator to bring light to a dark situation. After meeting Shalyn Nelson in Florida last week, Atchison said she was privileged to participate in fulfilling her dream.

“It’s always amazing to meet the children,” Atchison said. “Her whole family got to participate in the wish, which was great. They all needed a break.”

Shalyn Nelson talked candidly about her experience with cancer, a disease she said she knew little about before she faced it.

The year before she was diagnosed, Shayln Nelson was a first-grader at Olander Elementary School and participated in the school’s Pennies for Patients program. She said she did not understand what leukemia was and why they needed to help.

“In first grade, we were like ‘What’s leukemia?’” Shalyn Nelson said. “Now, I know.”

Shalyn Nelson said her diagnosis came with multiple hardships, including not being able to see her sister, Lauren, 12, for all but one of the 120 days she was hospitalized.

“It was really scary,” Lauren Nelson said. “I wasn’t really sure what to do.”

The girls’ mother, Sandra, said the sisters are incredibly close and will be forever bonded by one thing: the bone marrow transplant Lauren gave Shalyn almost two years ago.

“She gets to hold it over her head for the rest of her life,” Sandra Nelson said.

“I can’t thank her enough for what she did,” Shalyn Nelson added quietly.

While Shalyn has now been in remission for almost two years, with Dec. 17 marking the two-year anniversary of her transplant, she said she has learned one thing from her experience.

“Have hope.”

The Coloradoan
Ft. Collins, Colorado
Source:
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20110809/NEWS01/108090327

Phillip went through intense chemotherapy at the University of Kentucky Pediatric Hematology- Oncology Clinic in Lexington during his junior year and was unable to play soccer like he wanted.

Doctors at the UK clinic told Phillip about a month ago that the cancer is in remission. He goes back to the UK clinic September 1 for the third set of three month scans to see if the disease is still at bay.

“He’s back at everything now — school, soccer, work,” said Milette McCray, Phillip’s mother. “He’s doing really good. He’s a tough little fellow.”

This summer Phillip has been practicing soccer with his team, working at the Isom IGA grocery and looking forward to his senior year.

“He wants everything to be normal and I try to keep it as normal as I can,” said his mother, who said she admires her son for his positive attitude.

“He said he would rather have (cancer) than a younger child or an older person,” she said. “He has a really good outlook on it. He has been a trooper through all of it.”

A nurse at the Kentucky Clinic in Lexington kept asking Phillip what his wish would be if Kids Wish Network granted it. Phillip was hesitant to tell the national charitable organization what he wanted because he said there are people who need help more than him.

“Phillip told them, ‘If you really want to spend a dollar on me, pimp my truck,’” said Dean Fields, Phillip’s grandfather.

Fields and his wife, Nina, gave Phillip a gray 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 soon after he got his driver’s license.

“I said, ‘Pa Pa has a truck you can drive until you get better,’” said Dean Fields, who also lives on Pine Mountain.

Letcher County Sheriff Danny Webb and Deputy Scott Taylor solicited donations to help pay for the project. VFW Post 5829, Masonic Lodge 754, Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church, Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation, Elkhorn-Hazard Coal Land, Whitaker Bank, Community Trust Bank and Tim Short Chrysler made contributions.

Donald Fields and Roger Baker of Quality Auto Parts at Dry Fork donated the black paint and Don Childers of Childers Oil Company donated bumpers. Carolyn and Don Cummings redid the headliner, which is located on the top inside of the truck. Ted Cook, owner of Cook’s Body Shop, donated the time he worked on the vehicle.

“It rusted to the ground,” said Cook. “It was in rough shape.”

The vehicle got new carpet, seat, bumpers, rims and tires. Cook also supplied a sound system.

“It doesn’t look like the same truck,” said Cook.

Cook drove Phillip’s truck out of a garage at Mayking on July 30 while Phillip, his family and a few people who helped raise money or donated services watched nearby.

“That is the happiest he has been in many days,” said Dean Fields. “He has been so sick. That is the biggest smile I have seen on his face in a long time. He has anticipated this moment for seven months.”

Milette McCray said Phillip was quiet when he first looked at his newly remodeled truck.

“He just stood in amazement and didn’t say a lot at first,” she said. “I think he was shocked.”

Phillip kept smiling.

“I love it,” said Phillip. “I wasn’t expecting the pin striping or anything on it.”

Nina Fields said community members have been supportive of Phillip and his family throughout the last year by participating in bake sales and other fundraisers as well as asking if they needed anything and praying for Phillip and his family.

“The people in the community have totally been amazing,” said Nina Fields. “ People pulled through for us.”

“I thank everybody from the bottom of my heart,” said Milette McCray.

The Mountain Eagle
Whitesburg, Kentucky
Source:
http://www.themountaineagle.com/news/2011-08-03/Front_Page/Cancer_patient_gets_his_wish.html