To Bill, Love Amy

When I found out that I had Bill I thought of what a Rock Star of a Dad he is. There are so many things I could have chosen.

One of my favorite Bill stories was when he and Char went to go see Cole for the first time. Here was a baby Boy that 13 (I think) adoptive parents came and saw what it would take to be a parent to this little boy and they turned around and left. What did Bill say when he saw this little Boy? He went to the nurse and asked for a diaper, “My son needs a diaper change.” The nurses cried because they knew someone would take good care of this little boy who need much attention.

As I thought of Bill and Cole for some reason my thoughts kept returning to “Make a Wish”. This is a program that grants wishes to terminally ill kids. When Bill brought Cole home, he could have qualified for this program. But now with the love, attention, and miracles that Bill and Char have given Cole, he no longer qualifies.

So Bill, in honor of the fact that because of you, Cole doesn’t need “Make a Wish” I chose to do something with them. They have a program called ribbon and bows. It is for people like us who want to help even if it is in a smaller way. It puts on some finishing touches to a childs wish.

I contacted the director of the NW Make a Wish and gave her a link to our web site. She loved it! I chose to put together some backpacks of things to help kids when they went on the airplane for their wish. I am a Mom that knows what is good to pack on a trip that requires airline travel. I got back packs full of fun things that make the trip better.

Here is what was in each pack:

• Backpack
• Disney Crayons
• Disney Card Game
• Disney Coloring Book
• Sunscreen
• Pirates Booty
• Cups of Noodles
• Chicken Salad in a Can with Crackers
• Granola Bars
• Corn Nuts
• Beef Jerky
• Hot Coco
• Hawaiian Punch Singles for Water Bottles
• Oatmeal
• Gum
• And my favorite to travel with, Flips

Here is the info I was given. We helped two “Make a Wish” kids, and each one had a sibling, so 4 in total.

3-year-old Jennifer is going to Disneyland with her mom and dad and 5 year old brother! She is so excited to be going on an adventure with her family. She is hoping to meet the Princesses (it has been arranged that she will have a Princess lunch, but that is a surprise). Jennifer has been battling rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer. She has had chemo, radiation and surgery, and she is such a little fighter. No one is more deserving of a perfect get-away than little Jennifer. Thank you for helping make her trip perfect.

Isaac is going to Disney World in Florida! He will also visit Animal Adventure and Universal Studios. He is staying at Give Kids the World, a villa as remarkable for our wish kids as Disney World. All of the children who stay there must medically qualify with an illness and all of their facilities are accessible to everyone! There are unlimited train rides around the campus, an ice cream parlor open 24 hours a day, two restaurants and everything is complementary. Isaac has heard about Give Kids the World from his hospital friends and he can’t wait! Isaac loves animals – he is looking forward to visiting with the Disney animal characters. Isaac is 7 years old and has had congenital heart disease his whole life. Thank you for helping him have the trip of a lifetime!

Side Note: When I saw Aunt Lanae (our Startup Aunt) at David’s funeral I told her about what I was doing. She loved it and said it would have been so nice to have that. Carole Joy also stayed at “Give Kids the World” and she said it was amazing!

I will be getting photos back from both families that I will do a follow up posting after their trip.

I love and admire you greatly Bill! Love, Amy

PS…doesn’t that first photo look a bit like our Coley?