Carlisle, KY – A young boy with a life-threatening illness who wanted his very own playhouse recently had his wish come true with the help of national charity Kids Wish Network.

Trenton was born with Spina Bifida, an illness which causes different degrees of paralysis, ambulatory problems, loss of sensation and deformation of the hips, knees and feet. Trenton uses a wheelchair for mobility because he is paralyzed from the waist down. Along with his Spina Bifida, he also has Hydrocephalus – the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull – which required doctors to place a shunt in his skull that relieves pressure. He has had four surgeries to revise the shunt, and he also has progressive atrophy of his left kidney.

Trenton’s great aunt had been donating to Kids Wish Network for quite some time before she found out that Trenton would be eligible to have a wish granted by the charity. But as soon as she found out, she wasted no time in referring Trenton for a wish. It didn’t take long for a Kids Wish Network Wish Referral Specialist to contact Trenton’s mother, Leann.

Once the application was processed, Wish Coordinator Jen contacted the family about getting Trenton’s wish started. Trenton, whose favorite show is “Little House on the Prairie” and who loves horses, wished for his own playhouse.

“I think he chose the playhouse because he is the type of person who likes to have his own space. There are four [other] children and he doesn’t get a lot of time to himself and the playhouse would be a quite place for him to go,” Leann said.

Along with Wish Funding Specialist Doris, Jen got to work and found a contractor who would be willing to build the playhouse. Materials were donated from various companies, including lumber, concrete and windows. Jen even set up a party for Trenton and his family members to celebrate the finished product. She found a local baker who made a cake for the party which had a replica of Trenton in his wheelchair, the playhouse and Trenton’s horse on it.

“The party went great. And the cake was absolutely out of this world,” said Leann.

Trenton said that he enjoyed the party and the cake.

“We had a lot of people there and we mostly sat outside and talked,” he said. “And I ate cake.”

Leann said that Trenton’s wish came true and she is very pleased with how everything turned out.

“As many problems as Trenton has had and everything he has been through, it’s just amazing the love and the support that children like him really do receive from people that you don t even know,” she said.

So what is Trenton’s favorite thing about his brand new playhouse?

“I can just sit in there and have peace and quiet. We are going to put a TV in there and I can watch whatever I want,” he said.

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Trenton’s wish extra special: Home Depot- Richmond Rd., Home Depot- Harrodsburg Rd, Hall Construction, The Fairy Cake Mother, Tri-County Lumber, Congelton Lumber, horsepresence.com, 1~2~1 Marketing Services Group/Homestead Design, Inc., Elks Lodge #2819, Elks Lodge #438, Sam’s Club #8188, VFW Franklin Sousley Post 1834, VFW Simon Kenton Post 2734, VFW Boonesboro Post 7098, Woodmen of the World #936

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 us at www.kidswishnetwork.org

Christina, a 15-year-old girl from Michigan, had always wanted to go parasailing since she was a little girl. National charity Kids Wish Network recently made her dream come true by sending her to Catalina Island where she parasailed with her family.

In March of 2008, Christina and her parents noticed that her smile appeared to be crooked. Upon visiting her doctor, Christina was immediately sent to the hospital for an MRI, and a golf ball-sized tumor was found between her brain and brain stem. She had surgery a few days later, which removed most of the tumor that had adhered to Christina’s Auditory Nerve. This resulted in hearing loss in her left ear, balance issues and permanent left side paralysis. Although the majority of the tumor was removed, there remains a strong likelihood that it will grow back; Christina receives an MRI every three months to ensure that no new growth has occurred.

Christina and her mother, Diane, were sitting at home just two days after her release from the hospital, when a professional fundraiser called from Kids Wish Network. When the fundraiser asked Diane if she knew of any children who were living with life threatening illnesses, she told Christina’s story.

“I think it was really divine intervention,” Diane said.

Kids Wish Network Wish Coordinator Jill contacted the family and got to work to find out what Christina’s number one wish would be. Christina decided that she wanted to go parasailing over the Pacific Ocean.

“I was trying to think of things I wouldn’t get the chance to do. Parasailing looked really fun and I always wanted to try it. I also wanted to see the Pacific Ocean,” Christina said.

With the help of wish funding specialist Megan, Jill worked to arrange the entire trip for Christina and her parents. A round-trip flight, limo ride, hotel stays, dinners, a ride on a high-speed catamaran, an eco-tour across Catalina Island, a Flying Fish boat ride, spa treatment and even a boogie boarding excursion were also included in Christina’s wish.

“It was so beyond our expectations. Everyone took such great care of us,” Diane said.

Christina said that her favorite part of the whole trip was the parasailing experience.

“It was so amazing. I felt like I was floating and I could see forever,” she said.

Diane said she was a little nervous about parasailing, but she got over it after a few minutes. For her, the best part was the Jeep Eco Tour that the family went on.

“It was so personal and not a lot of people could do it. The guide was an amazing man and had so much knowledge to share. We spent four hours on the tour and were 10 feet from a real live buffalo. We saw an endangered Island Fox, a Bald Eagle, a Golden Eagle and so much more. It was beautiful,” she said.

All-in-all, the family said that they had a wonderful time.

“Everything was absolutely perfect,” Diane said. “We had the most amazing time and we are so grateful for the experience.”

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Christina’s wish extra special: Catalina Island Conservancy, Flying Fish Boat Trip, Descanso Beach Club, Deanna Stone Bodyworks, Avalon Massage-Lavina Jones, Parasailing Catalina, Catalina-Marina Del Rey Flyer, Catalina Island Inn, Rits-Carlton Marina Del Rey, Steve’s Steakhouse, Landry’s Limousine, Armstrong’s Seafood Restaurant, Cheesecake Factory, Catalina Transportation Services Inc., Belle River Community Credit Union, Fraternal Order of Eagles #3702, Richmond Kiwanis Club, Richmond Moose Lodge #2575, New Image Dental, St. Augustine Church.

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

Omaha, Neb. – A 9-year-old girl who suffers from a life-threatening illness had her wish to visit Florida theme parks come true with the help of national charity Kids Wish Network.

When Savannah was just 6-months-old, she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. The disease, which results in the clogging of the lungs and pancreas, causes breathing problems and stops the production of enzymes necessary for food breakdown. Savannah has to use a breathing vest and takes various medications including enzymes and inhalers.

A professional fundraiser made a call to Savannah’s grandmother, and asked if she knew of any children with a life-threatening illness. She provided the fundraiser with Savannah’s name. When a Kids Wish Network Wish Referral Specialist contacted Savannah’s mother Monica to see if her daughter qualified for a wish, she was excited about what the program offered.

“I was very excited and pleased that this was happening for her,” Monica said.

Kids Wish Network Wish Coordinator Vanessa and Wish Funding Specialist Doris helped set up the trip for Savannah, her mother, father and brother. A round-trip flight, tickets to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, a four-night hotel stay at The Royal Plaza Hotel, a trip to Wonderworks, various dinners including dining arrangements at Olive Garden, The Pirates Dinner Theatre and Wolfgang Puck Cafe, and spending money were included in her wish.

“We had a great time. All the dinners were amazing and I was very happy with the way that everything turned out,” said Monica.

Monica said Savannah really enjoyed dinner at Wolfgang Puck’s and that her daughter loved the celebrity feeling of meeting the chef, and all the special things they did to make her day even better.

“The whole experience was great. We got to be together and do something we would not have been able to do financially. Kids Wish Network did a great job,” Monica said.

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Savannah’s wish extra special: The FOP Douglas County Lodge #2, Omaha State Troopers Association, American Legion Auxiliary 8 & 40 Club, Concerned Nebraskans for Cystic Fibrosis, The Royal Plaza Hotel, Pirates Dinner Theatre, Olive Garden, Wolfgang Puck Café and Wonderworks.

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

Alpena, Mich. – A 7-year-old girl from Alpena had her wish granted to swim with dolphins thanks to the help of national charity Kids Wish Network.

Before her first birthday, Mariah was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and epilepsy. She has seizures on a daily basis, and relies on a walker or a wheelchair for mobility. Doctors are considering putting a pace maker into her chest to help control the frequency of her seizures.

When a professional fundraiser contacted Mariah’s mother Laurie and told her about Kids Wish Network and asked her if she knew of any children with life threatening illnesses, Laurie decided to refer her daughter. Together with the help of Wish Coordinator Vanessa and Wish Funding Specialist Megan, Mariah was soon on her way to Florida to see her wish come true.

Mariah’s swim took place at Theatre of the Sea in the Florida Keys. Laurie said that Mariah was so excited to be able to swim with the dolphins.

“She would rather be in the water than anywhere else,” said Laurie. “Watching Mariah with the dolphins and seeing how much she liked it was wonderful.”

Aside from setting up the family’s flight and swim, Kids Wish Network arranged for the family to stay at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, ride in the Key Largo Princess glass bottom boat, and dinner reservations were made at Outback Steakhouse, Key Largo Conch House and The Big Chill Restaurant.

“The meals were all wonderful. The last night at The Big Chill a man did balloon animals and Mariah loved watching him make them,” said Laurie. “And we got to sit out and look at the ocean while we ate our meal.”

Laurie said that everyone made Mariah feel so special. She said people kept coming up and asking her how she did.

“She loved it. She had squeals of delight. It worked well because we ended up with a dolphin that had done therapy and he just loved Mariah. He took her off on her own and pushed her feet right up on the shore,” said Laurie.

Laurie said that her experience with Kids Wish Network was wonderful and everyone made her and her family feel so comfortable.

“I think everybody had a wonderful time. I would tell anyone to refer their child to Kids Wish Network,” she said.

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Mariah’s wish come true: Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union, Dr. James T. Wolf, DDS, Fraternal Order of Police, Grace Lutheran Church, Moose Lodge #571, Outback Steakhouse, Theatre of the Sea, Key Largo Conch House, Alamo Car Rental, The Ocean Reef Club, Key Largo Princess Glass Bottom Boat and The Big Chill Restaurant.

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 www.kidswishnetwork.org

Ta’Kiyah,a 12-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007, made a special trip to the White House to meet President Obama thanks to the help of Kids Wish Network.

Prior to her diagnosis, Ta’Kiyah used to complain about having headaches. She was taken to the hospital by her Aunt Cherie, and doctors discovered a malignant tumor on her brain. Ta’Kiyah spent about seven months in the hospital, and underwent chemotherapy to treat the tumor. She is currently in remission.

When a friend at the City Council of Dover told Cherie about Kids Wish Network, a nationally recognized non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses, Cherie was excited about the prospect of having a wish granted for her niece. Together with the help of Wish Coordinator Madeline, Wish Funding Specialist Megan, and some very special sponsors, Ta’Kiyah was on her way to the nation’s capital. A limo ride, hotel stay at the beautiful Hotel Adams—where President Obama stayed prior to the inauguration—dinner at the Hard Rock Café, a trip to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and a trip to southern style restaurant Georgia Brown’s were also included in Ta’Kiyah’s wish.

“Kids Wish Network is a great place,” said Cherie. “They did all they could to make Ta’Kiyah’s wish come true.”

Ta’Kiyah wanted to visit President Obama, because she wanted to ask him how it feels to be living in the White House; but her nerves got the best of her.

“I kept covering my eyes. I wasn’t crying. My eyes were just watery that day,” she said.

Cherie said that Ta’Kiyah was so nervous when she saw President Obama, but he told her, “Ta’Kiyah, you can take your hands off your eyes. It’s going to be OK.”

“When he told her it was going to be OK, she calmed down a little, little bit,” Cherie said. “He took the time to embrace her.”

Ta’Kiyah said her favorite part of the whole trip was shaking President Obama’s hand and dinner at the Hard Rock Café where she was made into a rock star. She also brought a scrapbook to show the president, with photos, special certificates and her report card.

“I was very impressed. He really took his time and looked at every picture and asked her what each picture represented,” said Cherie. “Thumbs up to everybody who made this possible for Ta’Kiyah.”

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Ta’Kiyah’s wish come true: Dover Masonic Lodge, Open Arms Baptist Church, People’s United Church of Dover, The White House and President Obama, Hay Adams Hotel, Hard Rock Café, Camelot Limousine Services, Georgia Brown’s, Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the National Park service.

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 us at http://www.kidswishnetwork.org

Lexington, KY—A teen from Lexington has been chosen as a recipient of Kids Wish Network’s “Hero of the Month Award” by Kosair Children’s Hospital for risking his own life to save a friend. The Hero Program was created by the charity to help children who have experienced a life altering and often traumatic situation.

During a family outing on a boat with his girlfriend’s family, something terrible happened. In an act of heroism, Lester, a 14-year-old boy, was sucked under the boat by the motor, severely injuring his leg.

Lester was watching his girlfriend’s brother—who was knee boarding—when he saw the board flip up and hit the boy in the head. The boy was bleeding and unconscious, so Lester sprang into action.

“I looked at my girlfriend’s dad’s face and my girlfriend’s face and it was just kind of sad. So I decided to jump in and save him,” Lester said.

Lester reached the injured boy, and was in the process of pushing him up on the boat, when the motor sucked him in, and sliced his leg.

“He suffered three major wounds. One wound fractured his fibula and another one of the wounds ruptured the nerve that runs from the foot to the leg. The surgeon had to reattach that nerve so Lester could walk,” said Lester’s dad, Carlos.

Carlos said that Lester is making good progress, but still has limited movement. The doctor told him that the healing process will be slow, and could take up to two years until Lester has full movement again.

“The important thing is that he got to keep his leg. It will just be a matter of time until he will be able to do as much as he used to,” Carlos said.

Kids Wish Network works with over 100 children’s facilities across the country, and each month one child from each facility is nominated as a hero. Each of those children is then recognized as that facility’s “Hero of the Month” and receives a medal, a certificate of honor, a gift card valued at between $200 and $500—depending on the child’s age—to buy whatever they wish for, and a Hero of the Month t-shirt.

Kosair Children’s Hospital nominated Lester as their Hero of the Month for July.

“I thought the award was great but I wouldn’t have thought that would happen to me,” Lester said. “When I heard about it, it was basically the only positive thing that happened to me, so I was excited.”

Carlos said that once he had time to let everything sink in, he was amazed at what his son did.

“I was blown away by what he did. He is one of a kind,” he said. “And the nomination has really increased his self confidence.”

Carlos plans to use his gift card to purchase things for the upcoming school year.

“I want to get stuff for school: clothes, shoes, books and stuff like that,” said Lester.

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 http://www.kidswishnetwork.org

Rogersville, MO – Two young boys from Rogersville have been chosen as recipients of Kids Wish Network’s “Hero of the Month Award” program by Cox Health Systems Hospital. The award is given to children nationwide by Kids Wish Network, a national charity dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. The Hero Program was created by the charity to help children who have experienced a life altering and often traumatic situation.

It was an ordinary ride home from grandma’s house for 3-year-old Isaiah and 4-year-old Elijah. Their father, Clint, had just picked them up and they were less than a minute away from home when a drunk driver crossed into their lane, causing Clint to swerve out of the way, flipping their Jeep Cherokee several times.

The jeep was stuck upside down, and it took over 50 minutes for medical crews to extract Clint from the vehicle. Isaiah sustained serious injuries, and was sedated at the scene.
The boys were taken along with their father to nearby hospital, Cox Health Systems.

“Isaiah’s injuries were much worse than Elijah’s, but Elijah remembered everything and was more emotionally damaged,” said Amanda, Isaiah and Elijah’s mom.

Kids Wish Network works with over 100 children’s facilities across the country, and each month one child from each facility is nominated as a hero. Each of those children is then recognized as that facility’s “Hero of the Month” and receives a medal, a certificate of honor, a gift card valued at between $200 and $500 depending on the child’s age, to buy whatever they wish for, and a Hero of the Month t-shirt.

Cox Health Systems nominated Elijah as their Hero of the Month for July.

Since the accident, Amanda said that everyone is doing OK. She said that the hero nomination has helped everyone cope much better.

“It helped Elijah get through it. Any time anyone comes over he shows them his award and tells them he is a superhero,” said Amanda. “He wears that medal all the time. We framed his award and its hanging on his wall in his bedroom.”

“When I first met Elijah, his only concern was for his little brother and his father,” said Child Life Specialist Amanda. “He is my hero because he was so focused on his brother that he did not care how he felt.”

The family recently found out that Isaiah will be receiving the honor for the month of August. “I already have a frame ready and the certificate is going up on the wall. He’ll be really excited when he gets his medal because he always wants to play with Elijah’s medal,” she said.

Amanda said she is excited that both boys will be recipients of the award. “I think it is a wonderful program for kids who have gone through traumatic experiences to say, “look what I did, look what I got!” she 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 http://www.kidswishnetwork.org