 (Kids Wish Network) During his time in Hawaii, Ryan and his family never ran out of things to do and took full advantage of all of the activities Emily had planned for them.
Kids Wish Network grants wishes
Kids Wish Network
FEBRUARY 10, 2006JOHNSON CITY, NYRyan is an extraordinary teenager who suffers from a severe kidney disorder. Thanks to Kids Wish Network, a children’s wish-granting organization in Florida, Ryan was able to take a much-needed break from visits to the hospital and all of the worries of being sick.
Ryan’s mother, Diane, learned about Kids Wish Network after she was contacted by one of the charity’s professional fundraisers. When asked if she knew of a child who might benefit from a wish, Diane immediately thought of her son. After everything Ryan had been through over the years, Diane was hopeful that he would indeed qualify for a wish.
Ryan was diagnosed at just 18 months old with a condition known as nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder in which high levels of protein are released from the body because the kidney’s filtering mechanisms are damaged. This protein loss leaves low levels of protein in the bloodstream, and causes the body to fill with fluid. Ryan is steroid dependent and has been on dialysis for years. His doctors continue to monitor him carefully. In addition, Ryan has cancer in his left eye.
After being approved for a wish with Kids Wish Network, Ryan was asked for his number one wish pick. This brave teen knew just what he wanted: a trip to Hawaii!
Ryan’s Kids Wish Network Wish Coordinator, Emily, got right to work. She secured airline tickets, booked hotel accommodations, made dinner reservations for the family at area restaurants, arranged for fun activities on the island, spending money and more. Ryan was in for a truly spectacular wish trip!
Ryan’s special trip began soon after he and his family arrived in beautiful Honolulu. With an exciting itinerary full of things to do, he was eager to start exploring!
During his time in Hawaii, Ryan and his family never ran out of things to do and took full advantage of all of the activities Emily had planned for them. First, they enjoyed a helicopter tour of the island. “That was so neat!” said Diane. Later, the group viewed their surroundings in a rather different way – undersea in a submarine. “We were 100 feet down,” said Diane. “It was so interesting!”
Ryan also had a blast visiting the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. “They all treated Ryan so great,” said Diane. “He had so much fun!”
One of the highlights of the trip, said Diane, was exploring the beaches and going snorkeling. “It was Ryan’s first time snorkeling and he really enjoyed it! The sea turtles were at an arm’s length and he had so much fun swimming so closely to the coral and all of the fish!” They also visited Sunset Beach where Ryan went body surfing. “We were also really close to Diamond Head, which was so neat,” said Diane. “It was beautiful!”
The group returned home tired, but with lots of pictures and even more amazing memories. “It’s still hard to believe it happened!” said Diane. “It was just such a wonderful trip for Ryan. Everyone everywhere we went made him feel so special. He was like a VIP!” She was also tremendously grateful to Kids Wish Network and their wish coordinator, Emily. “She did an excellent job. She planned so many wonderful things for us to do. We just couldn’t have asked for a better trip!”
Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Ryan’s wish extra special: Atlantis Adventures, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Cheeseburger in Paradise, The Honolulu Zoo, Paradise Helicopters, Planet Hollywood, the Polynesian Cultural Center, Royal Aloha Vacation Club, TGI Friday’s, and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.
Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 813-891-9374 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at kidswishnetwork.org.
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