Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-South

I wish to have an Alaskan Dog Sled Adventure!

midsouth-admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:27:41 +0000

What about over 4 feet of snow with ice glaciers, dog sledding, and grisly bears? That sounds like an Alaskan adventure! Well, for wish kid Alexus from Arkansas, that was exactly what she wished for from The Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South. Thanks to her wish sponsor, the Brookland Schools in Arkansas, Alexus was ecstatic to find out that her wish to go Alaska with her mother, father, and two brothers.
            To start off their six day journey, they traveled to Memphis, stopping at Graceland, and continuing on to the airport. Since this was the first time flying for Alexus, getting access to the Highball Room at the airport was a great treat! After the 10 hour flight into Anchorage, the fun really started! When they first arrived, Alexus and her family went to the Wildlife Conservation Center where they had every animal from bison to elk. In addition to the land animals, she also was able to visit the Sealife Center to take a peek at some underwater creatures! Alexus was able to feed a sea otter named Skittles, as well as a bird named Nemo who “tried to come home with us in her pocket!” There were also octopus and starfish or “sea stars” as Alexus likes to tell her mother.
Playing in the snow was her favorite activity. It snowed over 4 feet but it was 68 degrees outside! Her mother also said that people were wearing shorts and they actually ran the air conditioning rather than the heat! What a better way to enjoy snow then for it not to be freezing outside! Alexus’ highlight of the trip was seeing the ice glaciers. She and her family took a cruise all around the glaciers getting the once in a lifetime opportunity to view them up close. She also mined for real gold which is something that not every 11-year-old can say they have experienced!
Because of this trip of a lifetime, Alexus now has more self esteem knowing that she can physically and mentally do things that she did not have the confidence to attempt previously. Alexus is doing very well and continuing to get better and live her life! When asked about what it meant for the family to receive this wish, Alexus’ mother replied with “It gave her something that we would have never been able to do. I am so very grateful and I will never be able to thank the Make-A-Wish Foundation enough.” She also gives people the advice of donating or volunteering because you are giving a child an opportunity to experience something that normally would never be a possibility. “These kinds of things do happen, you just have to believe in it.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South needs your help in granting 100 wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions through the Chapter’s annual holiday campaign, Season of Wishes. Approximately 25% of the goal has been reached, so between now and December 11^th call 680-WISH or visit www.midsouth.wish.org to find out how you can help make wishes come true! See our ad in today’s Commercial Appeal for more information!

I wish to go on a Caribbean Cruise!

midsouth-admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:11:58 +0000

            With the Eta Sigma Alpha Honor Society as the wish sponsor, a surprise tropical party was thrown in her honor to reveal that her wish was being granted. Under the impression that she was going to volunteer for a children’s carnival, when she walked into her own party you can imagine the shock! One magical Saturday, Jordi’s dream trip began in Miami where her and her family toured the amazing South Florida city.
            The first day, they boarded the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas to start their voyage through the western Caribbean. After going through a lifeboat drill, they experienced a “wonderful dinner” and enjoyed some free bingo. The next day was full of swimming, touring the bridge, and meeting the captain of the cruise ship. On the third day they arrived in Labadee, Haiti where they lounged on the beach and did some shopping on the island. One of the many highlights of the trip for Jordi came on Wednesday while visiting Ocho Rios, Jamaica. With swimming with dolphins in the morning and climbing Dunns River Falls in the afternoon the family had a packed day! Since Jordi had gone through her second hip replacement just three months prior, her mother was concerned that she wouldn’t be able to make the climb. “I was afraid that Jordi couldn’t do it, but we had a wonderful guide and Jordi made it to the top!” That evening after playing some more bingo, the family saw the ice show and met with the cast afterwards. Jordi went to what is now her favorite island, Grand Cayman, on the fourth day of the cruise. Some of the things that the family experienced were seeing the turtle farm and swimming with sting rays, afterwards enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving meal. After seeing and meeting with the cast of Once Upon a Time, they rested up for the remaining two days of their dream cruise.
            One of the last stops was Cozumel. Getting to go into a real submarine, seeing tropical fish, and shopping were just some of the many things this island had to offer. Their last day at sea, was a quiet one. After touring the galley and going to the farewell show, Jordi met with the cruise director and rested up for the journey back to Memphis.
            Jordi is now finishing up her first semester in college and is doing great. After asking Jordi’s mother how the wish process impacted her daughter’s fight and challenges with her medical condition she replied, “It gave her something to look forward to as we did not take the trip until she was out of treatment.” The Make-A-Wish experience provided this family, and many others, with hope and memories to last a lifetime. “You are giving hope to a child that is truly suffering. You are giving them something to look forward to, something to encourage them when time are darkest.”
            The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children ages 2 ½ to 18 to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. The Mid-South Chapter’s annual holiday campaign, Season of Wishes, is here! To learn how you can refer a child and help make wishes come true, please call 680-WISH or visit www.midsouth.wish.org.

Northwest Arkansas Wish Council Meeting

midsouth-admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:07:58 +0000

The Northwest Arkansas wish council meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month with the next meeting on November 17, 2009.

For more information, please contact Katherine Colgan at 501-376-9474.

KTCS Radio-thon

midsouth-admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:01:09 +0000

Have-A-Heart Wish-A-Thon

midsouth-admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:59:05 +0000

Heart-Filled Wish-A-Thon

midsouth-admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:37:47 +0000

Shara’s Paperie Holiday Party

midsouth-admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:32:09 +0000

Shara’s Paperie, at the corner of Kirby and Poplar, is hosting a holiday party December 3 from 6 - 9 p.m. Food and drinks will be provided and 10% of all sales will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South. Be sure to stop by to stock up on great stationery and gifts as well as support the Mid-South Chapter.

For more information, please contact Stacey Wagerman at 901-737-5056.

C.R.E.W. Lunch Meeting

midsouth-admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:28:17 +0000

Join C.R.E.W. for the first monthly meeting on November 19 at the Cox Creative Center in downtown Little Rock. At this meeting the first slate of officers will be elected along with planning for the year.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Please bring your lunch or order lunch from Sufficient Grounds Deli on the first floor of the Cox Creative Center.

For more information please contact Carissa Godwin at 501-376-9474.

Kappa Sigma Rake-A-Thon

midsouth-admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:18:50 +0000

Fall is here and you must tired of raking leaves by now! Why not let the Kappa Sigmas from UCA rake your leaves for a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South?

From now through December 6th, the Kappa Sigmas will rake leaves to help grant wishes to children with life-threatening medica conditions in Arkansas. Average sized yards are $25.

Please contact Matthew Hood at 501-454-3005to schedule your time!

I wish to go on a Disney cruise!

midsouth-admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:02:26 +0000

Chad, as he is referred to by his family and friends was surprised with his one true wish – to go on a Disney Cruise.

The surprise began early this year at the Memphis Zoo where Chad was told that he was going on a scavenger hunt. After each clue was solved, Chad would find a surprise waiting for him: Disney autograph book, digital camera, duffel bags with his name personalized on it and more. At Tiger Country inside the zoo, Chad found a really special surprise and as a huge Memphis Tigers fan he was beside himself when he found a Memphis Tigers t-shirts and baseball caps. As the hunt continued, Chad was given clues that lead him to the aquarium where his wish was revealed. On the wall, a huge ship painted on plywood was mounted with pictures of Mickey Mouse and others Disney characters, that’s when he learned that his wish had been granted.

Upon finding out about his wish, Chad had no idea about the surprise Disney Cruise, Chad’s mom said, “He was excited, he was so happy. He always says, ‘I’m happy.”

Mrs. Lovelace expressed utter disbelief upon hearing that Chad was even being considered for a wish by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South.

“I had no idea we were even being considered for a wish. One of the nurses at LeBonheur Children Hospital turned Chad’s name into Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South and then I got a call talking about the possibility of granting a wish for Michael. I wanted to turn it down at first because I thought your child had to be dying in order to have a wish granted. I did not want any part of that because I felt doing this would mean accepting that my son did not have much time to live.”

The next morning after the scavenger hunt, Chad and his family headed for Orlando, Florida. for a four day, three night stay, aboard the Cap Carnival cruise ship. At the Memphis International Airport, Chad and his family were introduced to one of the Mid-South Chapter’s pre-flight captains, who took care of their bags and took Chad on a tour of the plane and explained different things to him about how it works. This was Chad’s first time flying on an airplane so he very much enjoyed looking out the window at clouds and the sky. After a short and comfortable flight, Chad and his family landed in Orlando, where a shuttle bus awaited them and took them to the Cap Carnival cruise ship.

Chad’s mother said, “At first, I was not sure if he would get on the ship but he did and we were on our way.”

Once aboard the ship, Mrs. Lovelace said, “we were treated like royalty.” She and her family wore their Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South shirts and once the staff saw who they were with they did not have to wait in line or tend to anything.

Upon arrival, Mrs. Lovelace had heard if you left a pillowcase at the front desk then all the Disney characters would sign it for you. On the last day of the trip a very special pillowcase was left in their suite for the entire family to enjoy.

During the day the characters would wear dress attire, and in the evening everyone would dress according to the theme: pirates, etc. One stop the boat made was at Cast Away Key Beach, where someone dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean greeted everyone.

Chad loved everything from dancing with the Disney characters, to sliding down the slide where he gave Mickey’s hand a high five when you reach the bottom of the slide. The food was endless from the pizza to ice cream, just an overflow of goodies to enjoy. A special treat for everyone aboard the ship was the fireworks show the last night aboard the ship, which Chad enjoyed very much.

Chad’s mom said, “Michael is doing good. Compared to where he was he is doing well. This was a trip of lifetime. I was not sure if Chad would be able to go on the trip because his condition was so severe. Chad had just had his third open heart surgery and was on life- support, and in a coma. While on the trip he was still on oxygen at night but they had everything he needed on the ship. This is something he would never get to do if it were not for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Every time I’m out I try to give. Anything I can do to help support the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South and LeBonheur Children’s Hospital I will do.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. To help make wishes come true, please visit www.midsouth.wish.org or call 901-680-9474.

Photographs of wish kid Chad by Townsend Photographers.