Rebekah's Big Adventure

Three year old Rebekah is an adorable little girl with bright eyes and a wonderful smile, who loves to cook, watch the adventures of Dora the Explorer, play outside and get “big presents.” These are all simple and seemingly normal diversions from her current battle against leukemia, which has caused her to spend many days in the hospital and many more inside her home. Knowing her great love of playing outdoors, it came as no surprise that her number one wish reqeust was a tree house playground. The only challenge was a lack of trees in her yard, but with Make-A-Wish anything can be possible.

On May 3rd, Rebekah was invited to be a star in her own Dora the Explorer adventure at St. George’s Independent School! Charged with helping a baby jaguar find his mother, she went from one adventure to the next. From matching pairs of goats on the grassy mountain to crossing a bridge barred by trolls to enjoying a tea party in the company of Boots, Rebekah had a ball! Needless to say, the swishy grass path was one of the most creative ways to involve students! The kids dressed in green and lined the pathway literally swishing and swaying as she walked past. It was such a fun day for a little girl in desperate need of some special attention and a break from her medical routine. To see Rebekah stand up and applaud the enlarged photo of her soon to be tree house playground was a priceless moment indeed. Her mom and grandmother could only watch her delight and cry tears of joy. Thanks to their support, she will have an escape in her backyard where she can release pent up energy, imagine and play just like all the other children. Not only did she get her wish, but kitchen toys, play food and so much more to help keep her entertained through the long doctor visits and hospital stays!

A Party fit for a Princess

As students at Fayette Academy personally experienced, Evelyn or “Evie” as she is called is an adorable 4-year old little girl with bright eyes and a sweet smile who like all little girls her age loves the color pink, dolls, playing pretend, dressing up and riding her tricycle. These simple and seemingly normal activities have become therapeutic for her as she battles leukemia, which has caused her to spend many days in the hospital and many more inside her home. When Make-A-Wish volunteers visited this courageous child, there was no doubt about her number one wish request. Evie was very specific with her desire to have a “doll house with princesses”. This was no ordinary doll house mind you. Her dream doll house was to be “painted purple with a white roof and have princess horses and cows as well”. Talk about a woman who knows what she wants. It was obvious she has been thinking about this for some time.

On April 27th, Evie was thoroughly surprised by a Princess tea party that awaited her arrival at the school followed by the presentation of her doll house! Just as she had hoped, it had a barn, animals, furniture and so much more! From working lights to countless accessories, it was just what she had wished for! Between the fulfillment of her wish and the chance to be in the company of fellow Princesses, it marked a day she will not forget. Talk about feeling every bit a star! Now, every time she puts on her new white dress or has fun playing with her new doll house, she will remember the fun associated with the receipt of these treasures. Her new little home away from home will become a place where she can escape into her imagination and spend countless hours at play. Her illness may have robbed her of some childhood innocence, but the students at Fayette Academy managed to give much of it back.

D.J.'s Big Day!

D.J. is an adorable 7-year old little boy who stole hearts from those he met. Like most guys his age, he enjoys watching Sponge Bob, eating at Perkins, watching his fish and playing games with his brothers. These may seem like typical childhood activities, but for D.J. they take on special significance since they serve as not only a needed distraction from the leukemia that he currently battles, but are sometimes the best medicine of all to help him cope.

When Make-A-Wish volunteers visited D.J., it came as no surprise that he wished to escape to Disney World having always wanted to visit this magical place. The volunteers assured him that they would do everything possible to make his wish come true and that is where the students of Bornblum Solomon Schecter School came in.

Presenting a warm welcome as he rolled up the drive in an open air stretch limousine, the students had a direct hand in making D.J. feel every bit the V.I.P. he is by giving him with the gift of a day never to be forgotten. He thoroughly loved the entertainment, presents, personalized song by Robbo and of course, the big announcement that he was going to Disney World! Believe me when I say that no one in his family will ever forget the generosity bestowed on their beloved child that day. The longer he stayed, the more it sank in that he was having her wish granted and that they were actually going to be flying to Disney World.

One very ecstatic family left for this magical vacation on May 28th and had the time of their lives! With no worries, they enjoyed breakfast with all of D.J.’s Disney heroes, spent the entire day riding rides and best of all were together with no doctors or hospitals around! Happy memories were made that will sustain them for whatever the future has in store.

Abby's debut at Houston High

Eight year old Abby from Milan, TN, has star written all over her! She exudes confidence on the stage and in fact wished to be a "star" (but not in her home town). A girl with big dreams, she also aspired to visit the magical world found in Walt Disney World. Invited to attend auditions for Bye Bye Birdie at Houston High School, Abby came prepared, knowing her lines and ready for the dance steps. As the judges conferred, she waited with the other children for the outcome only to learn that she had been chosen for the part. Her elation was evident to all who were present. Just as the Director was giving out the rehearsal schedule, two "Princesses" from Disney bounded onto the stage announcing that the part would have to wait since Abby was going to Disney World!!! Showered with balloons, boas and flowers, one happy little girl signed autographed pictures of herself then left via a limousine for a special lunch held in her honor. Houston High Students were touched by Abby's reaction and experience of granting her fondest wish in a most creative way.

Shelton's wild time at Horn Lake Intermediate School!

To see him, you would never know that 8 year old Shelton was currently experiencing renal failure. With a smile that bright and such a positive outlook, you could not tell that he battles a condition every day that threatens his very life. It was obvious that his family provided an incredible amount of support to him helping him to prepare for an upcoming kidney transplant.

This is a child who adores bugs so much that his nickname is Bugsley. He aspires to be a zoologist someday. In his spare time, Shelton loves watching Night at the Museum, watching the Animal Planet, cheering on the Atlanta Braves and skating around on his Heelys. These have proven themselves to be necessary distractions as he undergoes frequent doctor visits, constant medication and injections and so much more. Imagine his great delight to literally enter a jungle adventure the day he arrived at Horn Lake Intermediate School. From identifying insects to actually getting up close and personal with wild animals, he had a ball. The smile never left his face as he went from one adventure to the next, in fact it only got wider. Of course, the big wish reveal was the moment everyone had been waiting for and his reaction was priceless. Shelton truly was completely surprised to learn he was going to Disney World in just a few days time. According to his mother, they had the most incredible time. With countless special perks and the button to get him to the front of every line, it was just what the doctor ordered to gear him up for his kidney transplant.

What a year!

Fiscal year 2007 was a banner year for the Kids for Wish Kids program, thanks to all the incredibly generous support we received from area schools. Six participating schools (Bolton High, Desoto Central Elementary, Evangelican Christian School, First Assembly Christian School, Lee Academy and Saltillo Elementary) exceeded $10,000 with four of the schools hitting this mark during their very first effort! We loved hearing how easy it was to raise that much money. Our thanks to all of the schools who worked hard to raise $5,000! You mean the world to us and allow us to continue granting wishes to deserving children in our community.

Each participant in the Kids for Wish Kids program made a personal and lasting difference in the lives of 36 children all suffering with a life threatening medical condition. Schools granted the wishes in very creative ways from talent shows to Dora the Explorer adventures to a wild life experience to a Star Wars excounter to a ficticious audition in which the wish child definitely got the part! The wish recipients ranged from 2 1/2 to 17 and had illnesses varying from bone cancer to leukemia to renal failure to severe sickle cell anemia. Despite their differences, every single child had their fondest wish fulfilled by caring communities of children making for a win-win situation for all involved.

I am going to attach some photos from 2006-2007 school wishes to touch and inspire you.

Call 680-9474 and ask for Sally if you would like to get your school involved today!

Sally

Inaugural Message

Imagine going before 700 elementary school children with the purpose of sharing your job with them. You share your story then present them with a heady task of raising $5,000 to sponsor a sick child’s wish. Presented with the possibility of meeting a wish child and having the chance to grant his or her fondest wish at their school is met with sheer excitement. Days or weeks later, you get a call from a very happy teacher, club sponsor or school administrator who announces that they not only hit the goal, but exceeded it. Stories abound of children bringing in their allowance, tooth fairy money and birthday funds. Schools report how meaningful the project has been to their students and how much they are looking forward to a wish granting experience. This is my job and I would not trade it for anything. Children raising money to help other children in need is a powerful thing. Add to that lessons on not judging others by outward appearances and appreciating the ability to take vacations for fun and often plus not taking the gift of good health for granted is a win-win situation for all involved.

It is my hope that this blog will allow participating schools, clubs and other organizations to post great fundraising ideas, ask questions and learn from one another how to grant magical wishes. I plan to brag, share tips and post photos from great school sponsored wishes for inspiration and ideas.

Best “Wishes.”

Sally