Wishes Come True :)

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Mehita

Mehita

Joined
Nov 12, 2011
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As some of you know, a friend of mine is a wish granter for Make-a-Wish and suggested that DS's name be submitted. I mentioned it to his GI who was more than supportive and today we got a letter stating that he will be granted a wish. Feeling a little overwhelmed right now, but my first thought was that I want to wait to tell him until Christmas morning.

You all are like a second family to us and if it weren't for all of your input, advice and support, I'm not sure DS would be in the good, healthy spot that he is in right now or that we would have gotten through this year. So, I'm wondering if you have any creative and fun ideas on how to surprise him?

I could just have him read the letter, but that's boring (and about the extent of my creativity). Any ideas?

And for those of you who didn't see the previous thread about a month ago on Make-a-Wish and have questions, here it is...
http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=57362
 
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New piece of luggage full of stars and a sign that says "Make a Wish". I'll have to think some and see if I can come up with something really creative.
Congratulations to him... Any idea what he will wish for?
 
crohnsinct, paging crohnsinct!
Any women that can think of taping balloons to herself and talk her daughters in doing so, has to be creative.:ylol:


I love the luggage idea.

How about leaving clues around the house. Have the prizes be words so at the end of the hunt it spells out......................... make a wish.

Make a puzzle with the words....make a wish?

Have friends congratulate him all day but not say why. When he gets home have the luggage idea waiting.

If you video taped it I'm sure theirs a forum of moms (dads) that would love to watch his reaction.

HUGS
 
Oh how fun! What is the wish? Is it the football thingy or was that someone else?

Love the idea of making it a gift to be opened Christmas morning. We did that with my daughter's acceptance to her number one dream choice college. It came days before Christmas and I opened it (I know bad mama but it was all in the interest of surprise and creativity). We gave her a sweatshirt to the school and the letter was I the box. Her reaction was priceless.

But back to you....I like the luggage idea! Do you eat breakfast before opening presents? Star shaped pancakes, star shaped eggs, toast...

Lemme keep thinking on this.
 
Wow, I love all the ideas! :applause: ...the luggage idea, the star shaped breakfast foods, the clues!!! :D

Here's another, wrap a number of boxes, one larger than the next, and inside each box, write down something you think might be a 'wish', and the last box would hold the letter. Not sure if I'm being clear..

1st big box 'A', try to wrap with 'stars' somehow
Inside box 'A', put another gift wrapped box 'B', and on top of box 'B' (or around the box), stick on pictures or words of a wish (like ski pictures... if he's into skiing???)
Inside box 'B', put another gift wrapped box 'C', again, again, on top of that box (or around the box), stick on pictures or words of another wish you think he might like.
And, so on... a bit of work though... :eek:

And, if you want to make it really exciting!!!... there was a party game I used to play with my kids, when you wrap the gift, use lots of tape on all the edges and then make him unwrap the gifts while wearing mitts (leave a bit of 'untaped' area or you could be there ALL day!) (As a kids' party game, all sit in a circle and the very well taped gift/prize is passed around with the gloves and each person has to pass it along with the music runs out... had to help out when the kids started GNAWING at the prize!! ;))

Another idea that I once did with a gift of socks (you might be able to think of something to replace the socks???) - I pinned a bunch of socks together, end to end, and then stuffed them in a long tube (like a poster tube). Wrap the tube as a gift. When they unwrap, they pull out the socks in a looonnnggg strand from the tube (fun way to receive boring socks as a gift :lol:) - imagine a magician pulling out a long strand of scarves from something.

OMG, what an exciting morning it's going to be for him!!!!!!! If there's some way to record it and post it, would LOVE to see his reaction!!!
 
You guys are awesome! I'm loving all these ideas :)

As of now, we just have the letter saying he will be granted a wish. Within the next three weeks his assigned wish granter will contact us and come talk to him about what his top two wishes would be. Then they later come back and surprise him with which wish it is and all the details. So, currently he's unaware of anything and that is where Christmas morning comes into play.

The Hubster suggested dressing the little brother up in a star costume and then playing 20 questions.

Or decking out our bathroom in stars and balloons with the letter attached to the "throne".

I will most definitely record whatever we do.

I am a little nervous about what he might wish for. I'm guessing it will be a trip of some sort, something with Legos, or something with penguins????

**and the football trip that crohnsinct was referring to was an unrelated gift from a private company who sponsors our hospital. Our friend who works for the company put his name in the hat.
 
To inform my children (who were 7 and 10) that they were going to fly to Disney World that day, I gave them each a golden ticket, just like in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and they were blown away!!! :)
 
I love to surprise my kiddos! This surprise will be so amazing and I can't wait to see his reaction! So happy for you guys!! And thank you for including us in the magic.
 
Okay, I think I have a plan (and only one day left to pull it together!)

Taking a little from all you've suggested...

MAW asks kids four questions for their wishes: where would you like to go, what would you like to have, who would you like to meet, and what would you like to be. So, he'll open a big box and there will be an atlas with a card that says where do you wan to go along with the next wrapped box. In the second box will be a People magazine with a card that says who do you want to meet and a third box. In the third box will be a gift card with a note that says what would you like to have and the fourth box. In the fourth box will be a Batman action figure with a card that says what do you want to be. We recently watched the video of the little MAW batman story from San Francisco.

Then under all that I will have a folder that says open me and inside will be the MAW letter.

How's that? Any other suggestions? I have to go do some last minute shopping!
 
Well, I videotaped it but 1) I can't figure out how to get it off my phone, 2) it was pretty anticlimactic, and 3) he doesn't want me to post it.

He had no idea what the clues meant and didn't figure anything out until he read the letter, which was funny because his little brother was just about peeing his pants with excitement. When the lightbulb finally went on over his head, he was trembling and asked, "I really get a wish?"

He said he wants to go:
-to Australia and see kolas, kangaroos, and penguins, or
-to London and see Big Ben and the Tower Bridge, or
-to Greece and see the sites
(Note: he hates to fly... these aren't exactly short trips!)

He said he wants to meet:
-a penguin, or
-maybe Jennifer Lawrence, but a penguin is his first choice (!)

He said he wants to be:
-a Lego Master, or
-an astronaut (again, from the boy who hates to fly)

He said he wants to have:
- a cure.

Of course my biggest fear is that he'll start getting sick again :(. That and, as stupid as it sounds, what people will think. You guys are the only ones who know about this so far. A neighbor girl was offered a wish and her poor parents had friends and family criticize them for accepting it because they are fairly wealthy and could afford the things she was wishing for on their own (trip to Hawaii, puppy). It took them five years to finally do her wish and the daughter hired an artist to paint a mural at the children's hospital. While the mural is beautiful, it makes me a sad that she felt pressured to not really be involved in it, KWIM?

My apolgies for going on and on about this, but I don't feel I can tell anyone else. At least not yet.
 
Just catching up and thought it was a GREAT idea!! Sorry, it was a bit anticlimatic. Then again, teenage boys never act the way you expect! :lol:

Funny about his wishes and how he feels about flying! :lol:

And, it's a same you have to worry about how others will view the 'wish' - I know it's not easy or possible to always disregard how others feel but, often when confronted with this type of situation, I ask myself if these 'other' people would make the same sacrifice/effort for me that they are expecting me to do 'for' them... if the answer is 'no', then sc..w off! :lol:
 
Hugs
Since others don't deal with this on a daily basis and understand what its like they don't get a say.

We use the docs and the foundation as an excuse. Docs/foundation thought it would help his overall health .etc...
Honestly anytime anyone gets something for free others judge ..

DS was given a dream night at the zoo.
We have taken him to the zoo many times but dream night is different.
Others judged since most participants had cancer or Down's syndrome .

He enjoyed it immensely
 
Sorry it was so anti-climatic.
What teenage boy doesn't want to meet Jennifer Lawrence :)
So a trip to Cape Canaveral for the astronaut, followed by Sea World where Jennifer Lawrence is waiting with a penguin...
Have to agree with the others they don't see what goes on every day. The foundation and the doctors chose him, they felt he was deserving so just go and enjoy whatever the wish is
 
I like JM's version of the wish! As for the others they are totally full of it! That is totally ridiculous! They should know you would trade places with them in a minute and stay home forever and ever if it meant your child could be free from this chronic illness. Not to mention these wishes are granted not because of economic need. It is the community and organizations way of saying we know you are suffering and we are sorry for that and want you to know we care about you and would like to brighten your day....it isn't about the money! It is about people letting people know they are cared for! And those nay sayers should care a little more!
 
Sorry, crohnsinct. Just my reality. Unfortunately, some of the same not-so-nice criticizers are still around town. And it's a small town. Hearing that O said that made me cry too. :ghug:

This has got me thinking though... we have a ridiculously large following on DS's Caringbridge site (which I find funny because I only started it because people were overwhelming me with texts and emails the first time he was hospitalized) and use that to make something good out of this. I've never really sugar coated much in journal entries (tho have been vague at times to avoid embarrassing DS) and there's no need to start now, right?
 
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DS doesn't know it yet, but his wish to go to Australia and see the penguins has been granted. They are going to do a wish reveal in the next two weeks. Possibly at his infusion on Feb 7th if it's ok with the hospital.

I'm putting duct tape on my mouth now. Think he'll notice?
 
Holy Mackerol! That's awesome! A trip to Australia. I would be hard pressed to keep my mouth shut while researching everything else to do in Australia. How fun.
 
Great trip.

How many days do you have in Australia?

What another things is your son interested in?
 
Amazing! I can't believe they gave him Australia. Make a wish Florida won't do Australia. Caitlyn was really disappointed as her wish originally was Japan or Australia and they refused both. They said they don't do either. Caitlyn cried for a month and then just decided to ask for Disney World even though we have been there a lot. It was a different Disney experience though and the hotel Give kids the World is beyond amazing.
 
Catherine - I don't know many details yet, but I believe it will be seven nights with the option to add more at our own expense. He definitely wants to see the Phillip Island penguins, koalas, kangaroos, etc. I think there are several wildlife parks in the area? Maybe spend a day in Melbourne?

kimmidwife - What a bummer for Caitlyn... that makes me sad. I was a little concerned about Australia too, thinking it might not go through. He had to write a letter explaining why that was his wish and what he wanted to see there. He's not the best writer, but I was in tears after reading it. Very passionate, precise, and persuasive! Had I not seen him writing it, I would have thought he'd tricked a friend into writing it for him. The wish granter said it had to go through several levels to get approved and I believe we might also have a local corporate sponsor who's more than excited to send a sick kid to Australia. Good PR and all.

I have read stories of another Minnesota kid who went to Aussie two years ago and one who went to Japan just last year. It must vary quite a bit by state.
 
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If like we could take you to a golf course and see kangaroos.

There some great place for seeing native animals. There is one on Philip Island, I haven't been there so cant recommend. Will send your some links when am home, should be working.

Is he interested in surfing?
 
Wow Mehita!! :dance: :dance: That is awesome news!!! I don't know how you can hold it it! :D
 
I am so happy that DS is actually going to see the kangaroos, koalas and penguins! He so deserves something like this, and I hope that it puts the biggest smile on his face, and pray that he is well enough during the trip!
 
We were like that in Yellowstone..
Why is everybody stopping, What is this line of cars? Oh it's just an Elk... a Moose... a Bear. Canadian Geese are a major pain here as well.
 
Weather for Philip Island

Climate
Phillip Island experiences milder weather than Melbourne and is tempered by ocean breezes. The mean daily maximum temperature for February is 24.7°C (76.5°F), while for July it is 13.4°C (56.1°F). The mean annual rainfall is 782.3 millimetres (30.8 in), with June being the wettest month (88.1 mm/3.5 in). The prevailing wind for most of the year is a south-westerly which blows in off Bass Strait.
On 10 August 2005, snow was observed on the island.[22] This was a very unusual event.
 
One hour until his Wish Reveal. I have a crazy three ring circus of lies going on... I'm confusing myself!
 
When you originally put this thread out i contacted our make a wish chapter. They told me it was only for kids terminally ill not chronically ill and we didnt qualify. So happy its working out for you. Crohns kids deserve it :)
 
In talking with our wish granters, it varies state to state. Here in MN, she said we have so many companies donating and sponsoring that MAW is looking and seeking out kids to use up everything that gets donated. They even asked our GI if he knew of other kids to recommend.

It makes me sad to hear of kids being denied.
 
I'm really sad to hear kids with chronic illnesses don't get wishes in some states, especially kids that have been through as much as your son Brian'sMom.
I hope very much one day people will understand the impact chronic illnesses have on our kids' lives.
 
How did the reveal go?!?!?!

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kangaroo_1_RLQWBE.gif
 
Happy kangaroos emoticon? :ylol:

It went about as well as things can go with a teenage boy. They're quite hard to impress at this age, but he did smile and was polite enough. They gave him a stuffed penguin that had a voice recorder inside. When he squeezed it, it told him that he was going to Australia to meet him (him being the penguin). Cute. Also a travel guide book and a March of the Penguins DVD.

Now we wait for details.
 
Ohhhh!!! How Wonderful!!! I am so happy for him, but good luck keeping the duct tape on- he's going to be wondering what has Mommy in such a good mood!
 

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