Wishes Granted

Featured Wish: Connor’s Wish

Connor is a happy, caring, loving and positive young man. No matter how much pain or how many obstacles he faces, he always has a smile on his face and an attitude that could teach us all a thing or two. He doesn’t let his muscular dystrophy define him or determine his future.

His wish, a road trip to Texas, was easily granted. A Child’s Wish rented his family of eight a wheelchair-accessible van and they hit the road from Center Point, Louisiana. Their experiences included the Moody Gardens Aquarium and Rainforest in Galveston. Then they went on to San Antonio’s River Walk, the Alamo, Sea World, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and the San Antonio Zoo. The last stop was Houston where their spirits took off at the Space Center and with visits to yet another Downtown Houston Aquarium and the Houston Zoo.

While every stop was an adventure, Connor will tell you he loved Sea World best. (Let’s hear a round of applause for those seals!) He collected stuffed animals along the way, comforting memories of his Texas Road Trip from A Child’s Wish.

Connor and his family during their wish trip

More Wishes Granted

Time is something most of us take for granted in our daily lives. But for a critically-ill child, time is extremely precious. Take a look at some of the wishes we have recently helped make come true for our Louisiana children.

Lockie’s Wish

Meeting His Favorite NFL Quarterback

Meet 9-year-old Terry “Lockie” from Lafayette, who loves playing football and being around friends and family. His wish to meet his favorite NFL quarterback came true.

A limousine picked up him and his family and took them to New Orleans. After an overnight hotel stay they were flown to Baltimore. The weekend started with attending a Baltimore Orioles game, but the highlight was on Sunday. Before the Baltimore Ravens vs. the New Orleans Saints game, he met Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

The Saints lost the game that day, but the big winner was Lockie.

Lockie and his family with Lamar Jackson on the field

Lockie and his family during their wish weekend

Lockie and his family at the Orioles game

Glorious’s Wish

Glorious’s Shopping Day

Glorious is a precious and beautiful seven-year-old who wanted a shopping spree as her wish. A limousine picked up Glorious, her mom and dad at their home in Tallulah and carried the group into Vicksburg for the big day.

First stop: Hibbett Sports, for shoes, shoes and more shoes. Next came the Rainbow store for clothes chosen with her mom, Ashley — and a much-desired new purse. After refueling with the best cheese grits in Vicksburg, Glorious shopped every aisle at Walmart, picking out a Halloween costume for school, a bike, an electric scooter, more clothes, and best of all, matching Grinch pajamas for her mom, dad and brother.

The limo could barely hold all of the purchases on the ride home, with Glorious dancing in her seat the whole way. A fun and exhausting day of shopping with the ever glorious Glorious.

Glorious with her shopping day purchases

Star’Jai’s Wish

Star’Jai Wished Upon a Star — A Trip to Disney World

Star’Jai of Ferriday, Louisiana, is three years old. She wished to go to Disney World, and A Child’s Wish granted it. Her mother, father and brother joined her on the trip.

The nights before and after the trip, the family stayed courtesy of the Hilton New Orleans Airport, and Star’Jai traveled to Louis Armstrong International Airport in style by limousine.

In Florida the family stayed at Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, a resort built for children with critical illnesses and their families. Star’Jai met Cinderella, Elena of Avalor and Minnie Mouse, and the family also visited SeaWorld. We were pleased to play fairy godmother — so glad you had a magical time, Star’Jai!

Star'Jai with her family on her wish trip

Destiny’s Wish

A Fabulous Bedroom Makeover

New Orleans teenager and talented artist Destiny wished for a redecorated bedroom to come home to after her stem cell transplant.

Wish coordinators Tammy and Stephanie took on the design challenge. Destiny and her family painted the room the beautiful blue she selected, and the new flooring she chose was installed. Then came the shopping — Rooms To Go, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Target, to name a few.

While Destiny was in the hospital, the furniture was delivered and the room was finished with bedding, curtains, pillows, lights, wall hangings and accessories. Her wish was granted the day she came home from the hospital to her gorgeous new bedroom.

Bella’s Wish

Bella’s Super Special Shopping Spree

Although Bella Jackson was diagnosed with stage 2A Hodgkin’s lymphoma, she is like many other 13-year-old girls — she loves shopping. Her family told us how much Bella would enjoy a day at the mall for new clothes after her treatment, so we granted her a day-long shopping spree.

Bella, who lives in Folsom, chose the Edgewater Mall in Biloxi, Mississippi. She started the day with a sushi and hibachi lunch with her mother Amy and big sister Emily, then took a limo provided by Blue Eyes Taxi and Limo Service to the mall, which welcomed the family with Bella’s name on the marquee, a wheelchair for a more comfortable day and an arcade gift card.

Her first stop was Bella Rose Boutique for a custom cookie, balloons and a surprise guest — Miss Mississippi USA, Bailey Mae Anderson, who gave Bella a crown and helped her shop. The day continued through Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works, Journeys, Footlocker and Dillard’s, where Bella received a generous gift bag from the cosmetics counters.

A Child’s Wish is so thankful to the people and businesses of the Edgewater Mall for making Bella’s shopping spree so spectacular.

Brooklyn’s Wish

A Trip to Hershey’s Chocolate World

Brooklyn’s wish was a trip with her best friends to Hershey’s Chocolate World, where she met Mr. Hershey’s Kiss, Mr. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate and Mr. York Peppermint Pattie.

Dylan’s Wish

A Trip to Disney World

Like many wish recipients, Dylan wished to visit Disney World. Once the wish coordinator described Give Kids the World Village — a non-profit resort in Central Florida that partners with wish-granting organizations to provide accommodations, attraction tickets and meals — his family knew that was where they had to stay.

The highlights of Dylan’s Disney vacation included meeting Barney, Buzz Lightyear, Goofy, Pluto, Mickey and Minnie, with visits to SeaWorld and Universal Studios as an added bonus. The Village kept the family busy with games and activities, and even the Mayor of the Village stopped by to tuck Dylan in.

Ernie’s Wish

A Trip to Disney

Ernie’s wish was to visit Disney, where he met his favorite characters including Alice in Wonderland, Scooby and Shaggy, Tony the Tiger, Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore.

He also visited Animal Kingdom, where he rode the Dino Ride and the King Arthur Carrousel. A Child’s Wish coordinator Julie Guidry received a wonderful thank-you card from Ernie and Sharon after the trip.

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