Adored Orlando Wish Gets Kiss of Approval
ORLANDO, Fla. (August 2023): Cohen didn’t suspect anything on the car ride over to Bomgaars. He thought it was just a typical day of shopping at his favorite store. That was until they arrived. There were balloons donated by Hoover’s Thriftway, and a warm welcome preluding a very special announcement. A store associate joyfully shared with Cohen that Kids Wish Network was making his dream come true, sending his family to Disney World, Universal, and LEGOLAND! The shocking surprise left him speechless, but that all changed after he got home. Cohen and his family continued to talk about his trip with anticipatory excitement leading up to his wish.
Kids Wish Network flew Cohen’s family to Orlando. He felt so special getting to sit in the cockpit and talk with the pilots, and it was just the beginning of all the extra attention he’d be receiving on his wish. Their time at the Disney parks was maximized having a Wish Pass, enabling his family to go to the front of the lines, and the Wish Lounge. “We were able to do so much that we couldn’t do under normal circumstances,” said his dad Travis. Cohen’s most magical moments were seeing Lightning McQueen from his favorite movie “Cars”, and meeting Mickey, Minnie and Goofy. His mom loved seeing the adoring look on his face. LEGOLAND was another highlight of their trip, Cohen loved the play areas and especially the water park.
Dining was also memorable. Cohen’s arrival at Ford’s Garage car-themed restaurant was celebrated with a honk of their festive horn. They also gifted him a shirt, cars and water bottle as special souvenirs, and let him have a go at honking the horn. They also made happy memories at Chuy’s, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, and Tick Tok Breakfast-Lunch. The family’s meals were provided by these gracious restaurants.
Their accommodations were also a very special part of the trip. They stayed at the Grove Resort & Water Park, having extra thrilling water time right at their own resort. Cohen loved the water slides, and their balcony’s view of the fun-filled water park. Their stay was courtesy of the resort.
After returning from their trip, Cohen’s family had a video call with Kids Wish Network. “We appreciate everything so much,” said his mom Paige. Cohen also showed how happy he was, blowing his wish coordinator a kiss.
A dire health situation made it necessary for Cohen to be born premature. He spent over a month in the NICU, and was then transferred to another hospital where he underwent treatment for over three months. Cohen has DiGeorge syndrome, a condition that affects many parts of the body, especially the heart, immune system and brain. Cohen has struggled with many health challenges. He currently takes growth hormones, and uses a feeding tube because of esophageal dysmotility. He also has a nurse to help with required care at home and school.
Many Thanks
Kids Wish Network could not have provided this wish to Cohen without the help of The Grove Resort & Water Park, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Ford’s Garage, Chuy’s, Tick Tok Breakfast-Lunch, Burlington Bomgaars, Hoover’s Thriftway, 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.
Every kid’s wish is worth the investment because every wish changes a life.
If you would like to sponsor a child’s wish, or if you know a child who is suffering from a life-threatening illness and may be in need of Kids Wish Network’s wish-granting services, please call 727-789-0008.