SAVANNAH,Ga. (October2023): Olivia was at the movies to see Haunted Mansion, but before it started, something shocking happened. A surprising preview with a personalized message appeared on the big screen. It revealed that Kids Wish Network was making Olivia’s dream come true, sending her to Savannah for a paranormal adventure! Her wish included a VIP experience with a paranormal investigator, and a stay at the historic Marshall House, affectionately known for its spirited residents. AMC Johnson City 14 provided admission for her family, and made her surprise reveal a blockbuster hit.

Olivia explored her passion for ghostly encounters alongside paranormal investigator Ryan Dunn, cofounder of the Savannah Ghost Research Society and Afterlife Tours. He’s written multiple books, and his team has been featured on A&E,SYFY, and Travel Channel. Their first investigation was held at Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, and it didn’t disappoint. “They were using this one tool, and it started going off every time they would say something about it, ”said her mom Deborah. They later walked to the Telfair Academy to conduct another investigation. Neither location has been observed before, so it was extra thrilling being the first to explore them. Olivia joined in the research using dowsing rods for their group to communicate with the haunted residents. Her favorite tool was the thermal camera. Ryan said, “Everything went really well. We caught a few EVPs (audio recordings of ghosts) at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, and came across a shadow figure on the thermal imaging camera at the Telfair Academy. Thanks so much for this awesome opportunity.”

He also gifted Olivia binders that included historical information and case files of the locations they observed, along with two shirts and two signed books. Juwan Mass from Travel Channel’s Ghost Brothers was also part of the investigative team at Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace. ”I wanted to express my sincerest gratitude for the incredible time with Olivia, her Mom, and Ryan during our recent meet-up and investigation,” said Juwan. “I truly had an amazing time exploring and unraveling mysteries alongside the group!” He also gifted Olivia a record to add to her vinyl collection, at-shirt and other mementos. She and her mom stayed at the iconic Marshall House that dates back to 1851, with a history of also being a hospital for soldiers during the Civil War. It’s been featured on haunted hotel show with a fun and rumored reputation of ghost sightings. The hotel personalized Olivia’s stay, surprising her with ghost and bat balloons, and gifts to further celebrate her wish. Their room was generously donated by the Marshall House. Other special experiences were touring downtown Savannah on Friday the 13th, shopping and dining. Huey’s on the River and Common Restaurant graciously provided her family’s meals, and the manager at Flock to the Wok personally purchased her a generous gift card to dine at the restaurant. It was also a meaningful experience for him since his own sister had her wish come true years ago. Olivia has Bahcet’s syndrome, an extremely rare condition that causes blood vessel inflammation throughout the body, and a variety of complications. She’s unable to eat many foods, and the painful condition has no cure. Olivia sees many doctors, and has to travel for hospital stays every few months. She also has a small tumor on her brain that continues to be monitored.

Many Thanks

Kids Wish Network could not have provided this wish to Olivia without the help of Ryan Dunn of the Savannah Ghost Research Society and Afterlife Tours, Juwan Mass ofGhost Brothers,The Marshall House, Huey’s on the River, Christopher Rasku from Flock to the Wok, Common Restaurant, Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, AMC Johnson City 14, and the many supporters who believe in making wishes come true for kids who need hope.

Visit www.kidswishnetwork.org to learn about our different programs.

Kids Wish Network has been making dreams come true for children since 1997. We are dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children experiencing life-altering situations. We started with the single purpose of granting wishes to children suffering from life-threatening conditions but have since created additional programs to benefit kids nationwide, including Hero of the Month, Project Toy Drop, Holiday of Hope Gift Banks, and A Child Forever Funeral Assistance.