Meggie's Wish Come True
DREAM, DREAM, DREAM!!! It sounds so easy to do... so why do we get stuck and have a difficult time letting our imaginations go. Whatever the reasons are for allowing our dreams to slip away, illnesses, business, lack of finances, lack of time, etc. Our children and foundations like Make-a-Wish will get you dreaming once again!
In 2006 we were contacted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation informing us that we had been selected for a wish for Meggie and the family, after a member of my family had nominated us. This was a dream turned to reality thanks to an unbelievable team of people who work or volunteer at the foundation.
When we first met with the volunteers they asked us many questions about what we thought Meggie may wish for if she could communicate it. After a little encouragement, we were able to start dreaming again. (You see, going through some rough spots in Meggie's- 6yrs of life at that time , really started to fade some of our dreams.) Getting us back on track was their first task.
We decided Meggie would really love to meet some Disney character, hear the music and take in the Florida sunshine, oh, and she would really love to meet Barney! (a favorite back then).
The plans were made and due to Meggie getting sick easier, and due to a lower tolerance to hot weather, we made plans to wait till September of 2007 to go on the trip. We had a small party with Meggie's appointed volunteer, lunch, cake, and some small gifts for the kids to take on the trip.
The team of people who planned our trip did a fantastic job, we never had Meggie on a big trip , or on a plane away from home especially for a whole week. The accommodations and the help they provided made it all possible. We would have not been able to do this on our own, now we just had to wait for the day to come.
http://www.makeawish.org/ 
Then the unexpected house disaster! Some things we just don't plan for. One day while cleaning, I noticed a small black line by the baseboard in the bathroom. It seemed odd, and I never noticed it there before. We also had two areas we noticed water (slowly) dripping in to our house, humm?!? Time to call an expert, the first call I made, I did not get a good answer, feeling very unsettled, I decided to try a different expert. He was out the same afternoon, checking things out for us, and I was in disbelief at what I was about to see (inside the walls)and learn!
Upon examining the wall in the bathroom and the leak from the ceiling, we had a mold problem, I cannot tell you how happy I was that we made the call. This is the first we noticed any problem, there was no mold to be seen on the wall, there was no standing water either, sick family members was a clue tho. The mold had gone air born, and to make a
looonngg story short, we moved out of our home for three months. Working some long, looonnng hours, and with the help of family and friends (but no insurance coverage), we moved in with family for 3 months. To ensure we did things right we took the experts advice, and were able to get our house back together and move in before the children started school again. Thank You Lord!!!
Home again, and looking forward to Disney! September 2007......off in the limo and through the airport...
The children's excitement if growing and they are trying to soak it all in. Upon arriving at the Florida airport, the beautiful warm air and the palm trees seemed like a dream at first for them. Leaving the airport we headed to "Give Kids the World" village and that is where our condo was located. This village was truly a kids dream, a pool, a couple of restaurants, and activities for the children everyday. Not to mention the accommodations were perfect with Meggie handicap. Everything was accessible (including the pool) and we could easily manage Meggie's care/routine.
The food in the village was great, it was fun meeting some other families with many various medical issues with their kids. The pool was great fun, for all who swam, and the activities for the children were exceptional! Just imagine somewhere around 90% of the workers are volunteers, amazing! One retired gentleman at the restaurant greeted us one day, and I said to him all the worker here are so happy, and he told me that many of them were volunteers, and that "To make these children smile is what it is all about! (especially after what they have been through)". God bless those volunteers!
You can view the village at "http://www.givekidstheworld.com/
Day two, now things get exciting!
Disney had to be the first stop, the place that makes you feel like a child again! Oh what funny the sights, the sounds, the laughter, Meggie did not get to hardly take a catnap there was much to much to take in. I love the fact that even when she does not see everything, she is listening to everything going on around her, quite intently may I add. The employees at the park treated her like a little princess, and she very willingly soaked it all up, you can't blame her can you?
Each day brought new excitement for the kids (and parents too!) Epcot brought much learning and observing, Animal Kingdom with the roller coaster and the water ride(they didn't tell me to bring an umbrella), one thing poor Meggie could not do enjoy those rides, not the best thing for her seizures. We returned every evening to enjoy more activities at Give Kids the World.
Universal Studios was definitely a favorite of our family, lots of fun for the kids, and in the morning when we would get there music would be playing in the park, and though Meggie cannot say many words we could hear her trying to sing!!! What a happy girl she was to experience all these sights and sounds, we could tell she knew she was on a very special trip, and kids were the honored guests. What a highlight for Meggie meeting Barney and seeing them perform, and playing in the Barney playground afterwards. Seeing many characters, and even meeting the dog that starred in a movie, the dog(like all dogs) loved Meggie, and kept trying to sit on her lap. The colors in the Cat and the hat section sure caught our eye, especially Meggie's, what fun, and the water in the play section sure grabbed her attention!
On the last day, we checked out of Give Kids the World, and headed to Sea World. Again enjoying another beautiful day, and making new friends along the way.
And each time mom (I) would baby talk to the dolphins, they would come closer and closer, making the kids laugh, and saying "they are not dogs mom". I just would say aww, they like to be treated special too.
This was a day of mixed emotion, ....in awe that our family ever was able to take a vacation like this with a child with special needs,....joyful for all the memories our family would have to take forward,....
happy we could get home to our newly remodeled home,...
sad to leave, because we were ending a dreamy vacation, that let us escape (for a time) the day to day issues special needs families deal with on a ongoing basis (and not always knowing if your child will be able to travel in the future),....
Heart felt gratitude for that once in a lifetime trip~that was so unique we will not be able to repeat it exactly like this.
Many, many thanks to an outstanding team of people from the Make-A-Wish Foundation who made this wish become a reality for especially Meggie, Andrea, and Andrew.
We will always remember many things, mainly the volunteers, the families with all those sweet children, and their heart touching stories.
One vacation, many memories, multiple blessings.......And one dream of a lifetime come true for a little girl and her family!!! ...... Make a wish!
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That is so amazing! Can we nominate ourselves?!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI think Meggie and Bugg look much alike. They have such similar gazes. Do you think?
I'm so happy that we're friends!
Love, Bree