For Kai's wish, to meet Ariel, an additional organization worked in conjunction with Make A Wish - Give Kids The World.
Give Kids The World is an amazing place in Kissimmee, FL (near Orlando) that provides a fantasy land for children with life threatening illness and their families to stay, as well as access to major central FL attractions.
At Give Kids The World, kids get to ride a carousel, swim in a heated pool or splash in an outdoor water play ground, eat ice cream any time they want and meet their favorite Disney characters. I know of no other place in the world where ballerinas walk off the stage after a performance and mingle with the audience, or where kids can play Candyland on a giant, life-sized game board, go horseback riding or celebrate Christmas and Halloween all in one week! ...And then come home to gifts, left by the gift-fairy, every night!
It's also an amazing place of acceptance. For children whose illness and disability are visible, everyone there is accustomed to seeing children on feeding tubes and oxygen or in wheel chairs. No one stares or looks away. We smile and exchange stories. Children talk about their similar experiences with "owies" and hospital stays.
The goal is to instill these children and their families with hope through granting a special wish. In reality, they not only do this, but they pull us up out of the day to day struggle to stay afloat and give us a break from all the medical appointments, tests and battles with insurance companies, in addition to the stresses of "normal" every day life. They give us a chance to be together as a family and just enjoy each other because everything else is taken care of. Every aspect of each wish, from the travel to the destination to the minute details of spending money and food, are provided for.
Moreover, they roll out the red carpet for these kids and REALLY make them feel special. The whole trip is planned around them and what THEY want to do. A break from the disorganized routine of being dragged back and forth to and from appointments and (often painful) testing and things they have no control over.
Ours was a truly magical experience. One we were sad to leave, but will never forget. Look for more on Kai's "Wish" trip in another post! (Coming soon!)
If you would like to donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, you may do so here: https://secure.wish.org
If you would like to donate to Give Kids The World, you may do so here: http://www.gktw.org/help/
You can also register to volunteer with either organization.
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