It’s so exciting to turn on my computer and find out that an article about one of our wish kids has been published in their local newspaper.

I came in this morning to find an article about Dasha was published and that a reporter working on another story left me an email stating that the article should run this Thursday.

Sometimes it gets frustrating waiting for an article to get published about one of our wish kids, especially when a reporter tells you it will run and you keep checking back and it never appears! But when it FINALLY does, it is a nice reward to see that your hard work pays off. Our wish kids are special and we like for their stories to get out there.

I hope you enjoy seeing them as much as I do!

Elizabeth
Wish Department

Talk about adorable! We received a total of ten pallets of the cutest, most huggable puppets from Folkmanis! These plush puppets are designed so that it really looks as if the little white bunny is coming right out of the hat. They are so soft and perfect for a large range of ages! A great big huge thanks to our friends and faithful donors ant Folkmanis!

Many children are going to be smiling and enjoying these wonderful creative puppets!

Barbara Askin
Director of Distribution

A few weeks ago a very special young lady from California named Brittany went to New York City. Brittany was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last December and after 12 rounds of chemotherapy and 17 radiation treatments she deserved an extraordinary wish.

Our sponsors in NYC are wonderful and helped us put together an awesome dream vacation for Brittany and her family. It all started with a U.S. Limousine Service stretch limo pick up at the airport. The family were treated like stars and taken to Doubletree Guest Suites in Times Square where they spent the next four days. Benihana Restaurant hosted the family’s dinner the first night and even had a special Chef just for them.

Day two was designed just for Brittany. 1st on the agenda was a pampering beauty treatment at Metamorphosis Day Spa. Next on the schedule Brittany and her entourage were treated to lunch at snAKS at Saks Fifth Avenue. After lunch Brittany was treated to a haircut and manicure and pedicure. Then it was off to Bloomingdale’s for a special make-up session. That night Disney Theatrical Productions arranged for the whole family to see “Mary Poppins”.

The rest of the days were spent at Top of Rock observation deck as well as lots of sightseeing and eating at some amazing restaurants such as Au Bon Pain, Carmine’s and Azalea Ristorante. The finale of the trip was a full moon dinner cruise aboard Spirit Cruises.

In Brittany’s own words: “My favorite part would definitely have to be the location of our hotel and our first dinner the night we flew in. It was an amazing experience to be staying right in the heart of Times Square and the moment you stepped out of the hotel door to just be right in all the excitement of NYC. The night we got there we went to Benihana’s to eat and actually ended up having a chef, Alejandro, flown in special from Virginia to cook for us. The Day of Pampering was AMAZING. I got a facial, massage, hair and nails done! It was my first haircut since my hair started growing back! So, my first haircut in almost 9 months. My favorite part was definitely the massage. I love massages.”

Jill
Wish Coordinator

We had another very exciting week here in the Distribution Department and I guess you could say that there is never a dull moment! You see, we just had the privilege of receiving 44 pallets from Fashion Angel of paper doll fashion design kits and fantastic pencils that are full of wonderful color and designs. It was such incredible treat to see this amazing donation come to life as it was delivered here to Kids Wish Network by two 53 foot trailers. Our faithful friends at CSX were generous enough to come to our aid by picking them up and delivering them to us. It is companies like Fashion Angels and CSX that allow us to carry out our mission to bring joy and happiness to very deserving children all across the US.

Barbara Askin
Director of Distribution

Today I had the honor of accepting an award from the Salvation Army Domestic Abuse Shelter with my colleague Susan on behalf of Kids Wish Network. As I sat through the presentation, it hit me how much of an impact Kids Wish Network has on these moms and their children. One mother shared her success story with us. I was very troubled at first when she began to tell about the horrific life that she had prior to getting help from the shelter. I couldn’t imagine how scared she must of been or how she and her child even made it out of their situation alive.

As I gazed around the room to see the reactions of others, it dawned on me that all the amazing people sitting around me were working as one whether it be Kids Wish Network, local police and detectives on a mission to protect these battered women and children, or government entities structured just to meet this need in the community. We are all coming together as one to make their lives better and helping them to have that second chance that some of these women and children never thought they would have.

Working with these local abuse centers for battered women and children along with many other local facilities has changed my life forever in a good way. Hearing stories of how Kids Wish Network has changed the lives of these children and their families is just so awesome.

Heather
Distribution Department

Well, everyone knows the flu season is here and it certainly hasn’t forgotten us here at Kids Wish Network. For me personally it definitely hit home when my nine-year-old daughter came down with the flu last week! My husband and I were very worried about her but we got her to the doctor within the first 24 hours and on the proper medicine and she is doing just fine now. Kids Wish Network was wonderful in allowing me the time to be home with her.

When I came back to work last Friday everyone was asking how she was doing. My co-workers here at KWN are awesome! We make a great team and all work together in granting wishes for all those brave children who don’t always get better like my little girl was able to do.

Kathleen
Office and Personnel Administrator

Today is all about Philly!!! I’m reaching out to several businesses in the greater Philadelphia area to help make our Holiday of Hope party super special. We are heading north in December (bbrrrr…) to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia to host a party for a special group of kids. A very LARGE special group of kids. We are expecting more than 250 kids!! I am so excited!! So far we have some really great entertainment lined up. Home Depot is hosting their infamous arts and crafts table and the Philadelphia Football Cheerleaders will make an appearance too! Today I am focusing on the clowns, face painters and balloon artists. Left a couple of messages, but so far no bites. Keep your fingers crossed. We want to make this the best Holiday of Hope party ever…at least until next time!

Margo
HOTM Facility Coordinator

I like my desk at Kids Wish Network. I sit right next to the wish coordinators, so I get to hear all the “good stuff.” I always like to hear about what the kids ask for, or what cute things they have to say. I don’t know if I could ever do the job – be a wish coordinator that is – because I think I would get too attached to the kids. But I like getting up close to the wish and hearing all about it. It always makes my day a little brighter!

Elizabeth
Wish Deptartment

A 12-year-old boy with a serious illness was awarded the Kids Wish Network Hero of the Month for October. The award was made possible by Kids Wish Network and Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia.

Dustin suffers from a disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta – also known as Brittle Bones. OI causes Dustin’s bones to be broken very easily and in his 12 years he has broken over 120 bones. Dustin’s father, Michael, said although it has been tough, Dustin is doing well.

“He just had his 20th surgery to have his spine fused. He is the only child in the world with titanium ribs,” Michael said. “He is doing good. It’s been a long road. He has had 20 surgeries since 2003.”

Kids Wish Network is a national children’s charity that has various programs including wish granting for children with life threatening illnesses and the Hero of the Month program. The Hero program recognizes children who do not have a life threatening illness, but have faced difficult circumstances and oftentimes endured a lot of pain. Kids Wish Network works with facilities across the country to nominate one child per facility each month.

Dustin is the October Hero for Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia.

“I was excited when I heard about his nomination,” said Michael. “We are keeping it a surprise from Dustin until he gets his awards.”

Each Hero is given a t-shirt, a medal of honor, a certificate and a gift card to Wal-Mart or Target valued between $200 and $500 depending on the child’s age. Dustin will be given a $400 gift card to Wal-Mart.

Although Dustin could have been nominated based on his painful illness alone, there is something special about him that made the nurses and child life specialists at Shriner’s decide to choose him as their October Hero. When he is not at the hospital getting treated for a broken bone, Dustin is at home making small pillows to give to the other children at the hospital.

“When we were there for one of his surgeries they gave a pillow to prop his arm up with the IV. Dustin has learned to sew from my wife and they took the project upon themselves,” Michael said. “We’ve taken pillows three times and we took 107 this last time.”

The pillows are distributed by the nurses to the children who are admitted into the hospital. One of the nurses who works with Dustin, Mary Ann, helps give out his hand-made pillows.

“We try to give every child a stuffed toy or something and he started making them and recruited his family. They are like fleecy pillows and the children like them and we can use them for propping up an arm or making the child more comfortable,” she said.

Although Michael and his wife have not told their son about his nomination, Michael said that he knows Dustin will be excited.

“I think it’s great. It’s just a great program,” he said.

Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. Aside from granting wishes, Kids Wish Network also has several other programs which benefit children’s care facilities. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org

Baton Rouge, LA – A 5-year-old boy suffering from a life threatening illness had his wish granted to see dinosaur bones with the help of national charity Kids Wish Network.

Just after Anthony was born, he was diagnosed with an illness called Biliary Atresia. It is a disease which causes the bile ducts of the liver to shut down. At three months of age, Anthony required a liver transplant. Anthony’s father, Mark, became the donor for his son, and the surgery was a success. Anthony still has a suppressed immune system and has to take anti-rejection medicine on a daily basis.

Anthony’s mom, Laurie, said that they found out about Kids Wish Network through their social worker at the hospital. She decided to refer her son for a wish. Initially, Anthony said he wanted to build a time machine to travel back in time and see the dinosaurs. But seeing as how that is not possible, instead, he traveled to the Smithsonian Institution in D.C. to see dinosaur bones. Soon after referring her son, Laurie was on the phone with wish coordinator Vanessa, making plans for Anthony’s wish.

“Anthony talked about it for a week non-stop,” said Laurie. “He told the checkout people at all the stores we went to and the garbage man who comes to our house that he was going to see dinosaur bones.”

Laurie said that Anthony has been fascinated with dinosaurs for quite some time now and it all started with a trip to a bookstore.

“It just used to be cars that he liked and all of the sudden it switched to dinosaurs. He picked up a book about dinosaurs and that was it,” she said.

With the help of wish funding specialist Donna, Vanessa got to work and planned the whole trip for Anthony and his parents. A round-trip flight, limo transportation, hotel stay, various dinner arrangements, a visit to The National Zoo, a trip to the Smithsonian and the National Air and Space Museum and even spending money was arranged for the family. Laurie said the family had a great time.

“This was an amazing experience for me. Never would I have been able to arrange all these special things like the private tour we had at the museums,” she said.

The day that the family left for D.C., Laurie said that Anthony woke up at 5 a.m. saying that, “his eyes were too excited to sleep.” She said that when he finally got to see the bones up close, he was so excited.

“When he saw the first bones I thought that his eyes were going to come out of his head,” said Laurie. “He was speechless and that is rare for him because he is so talkative.”

Laurie said that she is so thankful for the chance to see Anthony’s wish come true.

“The whole trip was wonderful. It was a dream come true for Anthony and anything that makes him happy makes us happy,” she said.

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Anthony’s wish extra special: Washington Marriott Wardman Park, Chef Geoff’s Downtown, Morton’s of Chicago, Bluepoint Restaurant, National Air and Space Museum, Limousine Services, LLC, Smithsonian Institution-National Museum of Natural History, Baton Rouge River Center, Sons of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, AFL-CIO, Florence Mauboules Charitable Trust

Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org

A teen with a life-threatening illness gets her wish granted to visit Florida theme parks with the help of national charity Kids Wish Network.

Dasha is 14-years-old and suffers from Systemic Lupus Erythematosis. This illness affects her joints – similar to arthritis – and causes severe swelling. Many times, it is difficult for her to walk, as the illness affects her entire body. Last January, Dasha had bone marrow surgery and she also must stay out of the sun or stay covered while outside.

One day while watching the news, Dasha’s mom, Dorothy, saw a story about a child who had a wish granted by Kids Wish Network. Dorothy decided to refer her daughter for a wish. It didn’t take long before the family was talking to wish coordinator Vanessa and making arrangements for Dasha’s wish.

“She was very excited. She was telling everybody that she was going to Disney World,” Dorothy said. “She always liked rides and stuff and that is probably why she chose this for her wish.”

With the help of wish funding specialist Megan, Vanessa arranged for theme park tickets for Dasha and her family, spending money, a hotel stay, various dinners and a trip to a hands-on museum. Dorothy said that the hotel stay and the dinners were great.

“Everything was really nice and the food at Ponderosa was great,” she said.

While in Florida, the family visited The Magic Kingdom, Sea World and Busch Gardens. Dorothy said that experience at The Magic Kingdom was the best for Dasha.

“For Dasha, her favorite was The Magic Kingdom. She loved the parades and Cinderella,” she said.

Dorothy said the family had a great time and that Dasha’s wish definitely came true.

“Just seeing that Dasha was happy was the best part for me,” she said. “It was really good and I thank Kids Wish Network for doing that for her.”
Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Dasha’s wish extra special: Cambridge Firefighters Local 910, The Royal Plaza Hotel, Pirates Dinner Theater, Ponderosa Steak House, The Cheesecake Factory, Wonderworks, Hampton Inn and Suites

Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org.

A teen from Amarillo, who suffered a traumatic brain injury while crossing the street to get his father a birthday card, is being awarded October’s Hero of the Month for The Children’s Hospital at NWTHS. The award is presented by national charity Kids Wish Network.

On Oct. 10, 2007, John was crossing the street to get his father a birthday card when he was hit by two cars. The accident left him almost completely paralyzed on his right side. It took away his hearing in his right ear, left him unable to walk and also took a heavy toll on his speaking abilities.

“The first car bumped him and the second car slammed him into the asphalt. He spent 29 days in the ICU at NW Texas,” said John’s father, John. “He was given a less than 5 percent chance to make it through the night.”

Although the odds were against him, John pulled through and is slowly making a recovery. With the help of music therapy, John is beginning to put words together. One night, his family was watching TV when John started singing along with the words to the opening song.

“Who Are You, by The Who is one of the first things he sang while watching the opening credits of CSI and that really started his talking again,” John’s dad said. “Music is everything to him. Even when he was in a coma we would put his iPod on him and let him listen to his music. Music is a great way for him to express himself and form his words because he is having trouble with his talking.”

John was nominated for Hero of the Month by his child life specialist, Becky. She said that the family was excited to be given such a great award.

“They were extremely excited. They thought it was very sweet and endearing to be able to recognize all he has done for his recovery,” she said.

Kids Wish Network works with facilities across the country to find children who otherwise would be missed. Heroes are children between the ages of 3 and 18 who do not have a life-threatening illness, but have experienced something traumatic or have gone through some tough times. Each facility nominates one child each month, and that child is given a medal of honor, a certificate, a Hero t-shirt and a gift card to Wal-Mart or Target valued between $200 and $500 depending on their age.

Becky said that her facility has been using the Hero of the Month program for about two years. She said the program is very helpful.

“I think it is a great way to give patients who wouldn’t get a wish a chance to boost their spirits and give them recognition,” she said. “I really think the program is probably one of the most beneficial wish organizations because it recognizes children without life threatening illnesses and gives them something to look forward to.”

John’s dad said that today, doctors are “flabbergasted” that John is alive and making a recovery.

“He is a miracle,” Becky said.

Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. Aside from granting wishes, Kids Wish Network also has several other programs which benefit children’s care facilities. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org

As a nation, we’re making it through a financially trying time, but I’m still so truly amazed by the giving nature of our sponsors. They continue to come through for all our wish kids here at Kids Wish Network. They dig deep and send what they can, knowing that a child is waiting who is enduring more than financial strife. Our wish kids suffer more in a day than most of us do in a lifetime and most of the time they do it with a smile. I’ve learned so much here at Kids Wish Network, not only about the suffering our wish kids go through, but also about the wonderful benefits of giving. Thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors across this great nation! We couldn’t keep the smiles going without all of your help!

Doris
Development Department

McKenna had a fabulous time at Disney World this past week. Her mother said, “Her eyes LIT UP every time she saw a character!”

McKenna and her family enjoyed the accommodations, theme parks and many restaurants which sponsored her wish. Everyone treated McKenna like a princess. I would like to thank everyone for making McKenna’s DREAM COME TRUE!

As soon as McKenna arrived home she started a “change bottle” so she can go back in the near future!

Vanessa
Wish Department

Once a month, my colleague and I dedicate a portion of our day to bundling up gift packages which are then shipped to our participating HERO OF THE MONTH facilities. Today was one of “those days” and we managed to keep very busy thanks to the many facilities that sent in their HERO nominations this month. For us, it’s worth all the folding, stuffing, sorting and taping (and paper cuts!) because it means that ONE HUNDRED children will receive their t-shirt, certificate, medal and gift card within the next 24-48 hours. Happy Shopping to all our little HEROES – it’s been our honor to award you with this well-deserved token!

~Susan
HOTM Facility Coordinator