Everybody heard about Make-a-Wish Foundation. This is the
umbrella organization for a number of state Make-a-Wish
foundations that provide wishes for seriously ill children. One of
the most popular wishes, a trip to Disneyworld, is actually a joint
effort of two organizations: Make-A-Wish, which takes care of the
airfare and ground transportation, and Give Kids The World -
which provides the accommodations, meals and tickets to the parks
in Florida.
Our trip to Disney was wonderful. Not only for Shelly, but for our entire family. Make-a-Wish Foundation
of Michigan expedited our
request, and we were able to go right after Shelly completed the
radiation treatments, and before she started chemotherapy. During
this time she was healthy, and able to do all the activities like a
normal child. For Maia, who was 4 when Shelly died, the memories
from Disneyworld are her most vivid memories of her sister, and
these are fun memories, of Shelly enjoying herself, smiling,
laughing. These are memories of our family as a complete unit.
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A family portrait with Mickey and Minnie, April 30, 1999.
We are thankful to Make-a-Wish Foundation of
Michigan, and Give Kids the World,for giving Shelly and our family the great
vacation and treasured memories. What makes the trip so unique is
the wonderful hospitality at the kids village, which is owned by
Give Kids the World, and the wonderful treatment we received, not
only at the village, but also in the parks and restaurants we visited.
At the kids village families stay at spacious villas where the kids get
the bigger bedroom and bathroom. Although each unit has a large
kitchen, meals are provided at the Gingerbread House Restaurant.
This is the cutest restaurant with child-sized tables decorated with
real peppermint candies, and dolls from around the world. Every
morning the kids can ride the Merry-Go-Around and every evening
they can play in the Castle of Miracles, which has a huge collection
of toys and a video arcade, or swim at the pool where the
ice-cream and concessions are free.
Shelly and Maia in front of our villa at the kids village, April 25, 1998.
Shelly said that she liked the Merry-Go-Around at the village more
than the one at the Magic Kingdom, because "kids with wheelchairs
can ride it too". One of the nicest things about this trip is that
everyone, regardless of their physical limitations, can enjoy this
experience to the fullest. Everyone feels welcome, special, a VIP.
