Teen's Dream To Visit Disney World Granted By Make-A-Wish Foundation
Teen's Dream To Visit Disney World Granted By Make-A-Wish Foundation
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Teen's Dream To Visit Disney World Granted By Make-A-Wish FoundationDavid Wallen has been dreaming for the past 18 years of taking a family vacation to Disney World in Florida.
The 18-year-old's dream was made possible Sunday through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He was recommended for the trip by a family friend and Dr. Gary Pitts, Kosciusko Community Hospital.
Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted wishes to children and young adults with life-threatening medical conditions.A child must have reached 2-1/2 years old and be under 18 years old at the time of the referral to be eligible to receive a wish. To qualify to receive a wish, the child or teen must be referred to the foundation by medical professionals treating the child or a guardian.
David was born Feb. 1, 1991, at KCH, with Chromosome 6, a rare chromosome disorder. His case was only one of three reported in the world at the time.
Usually, when the family takes a vacation, David stays in Warsaw because he is not able to travel with his medical condition. Sunday was the family's first vacation with David.
A limousine Sunday morning picked him and his parents, Larry and Mary Pat, two brothers, Ross, 14, and Mark, 10, and sister Laura, 19, up at their Warsaw home.
The limo took the family to Indianapolis International Airport where they flew to Orlando, Fla., for a week's trip to Disney World. They will return Saturday.
The foundation paid for the family's airfare, lodging and breakfasts and dinners. David and his siblings received spending money.
David also received a Make-A-Wish Foundation t-shirt, pillow case for Disney characters to sign and a pin. Wallen will have lunch Tuesday with his favorite Disney character, Goofy.
"We have a lot of the Disney videos that David has been watching since he was young," Mary Pat said.
David was totally blind until his first birthday, but when he responded to a balloon going past the window, his family knew he could then see.
David had syndrome features at birth with dislocated hips, an elongated spaced nose and relocatable fingers.
He received care from 50 doctors before his first birthday and cried 23 hours a day, according to Mary Pat. He also had autistic characteristics and loud noises would bother him.
"The doctors said he would be blind and not be able to walk and not live six months past being born, but now he can see and walk," Larry said. "He has touched a lot of lives and others have touched his."
David was rushed two days after he was born to Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, where he stayed in the Intensive Care Unit for a week.
He received occupational therapy from Cardinal Services.
Mary Pat said they have almost lost their son many times because he has failure to thrive because it was hard for him to keep food down. David is tube fed at night, and his food must be made from scratch. He cannot have soy, wheat, corn or dairy products.
Mary Pat said her Mother's Day was extra special Sunday because it was the family's first vacation with David.
"We have seen miracle after miracle with David, and those miracles have touched us and magnified," Mary Pat said.
Mark said he is excited to ride rides with his brother and other siblings.
David attends Warsaw Community High School, where he is a senior in special needs classes. His parents said they expect him to continue attending classes until he is 22 before graduating.
For more information about Make-A-Wish, visit www.wish.org
