Make A Wish Sends Lauren to Disney World! * IT IS FINISHED...* *Updated 1/28/09*

[mom2lilnick]

I can't wait to read more!!

 

[Stephres]

Hooray! I can't wait to hear all about it!

 

[bex271]

I can't wait to hear about your trip.

 

[jillalvarez2003]

Maroo, I can't wait to hear all about your trip with Lauren and her family!

 

[Khalana]

I am looking forward to hearing all about your trip!

 

[maroo]

Can't wait to hear your report! We will be there in 3 weeks!

I know you are so excited! What a great time to go! The weather was wonderful, crowds were low and it was simply wonderful! I can't wait to go back.

I'm on board Mary!!! I can't wait to read your report!!!!!!!!

And, I'm SOOO glad the skirt made it before you guys left! I was worried!

Yep! The skirt made it!! You guys are so awesome. I can't wait to join the Big Give team!!

Hi Mary, I am here. I know you probably won't have installments up before I leave so I wanted to make sure I subscribed so when we get back from our trip I can catch up!!

Yes, I can't wait to read your trip report as well!!! Woo Hoo!!

I can't wait to hear more!!!

I can't wait to tell you more, either! We got more pictures today to add to my stash...I am so excited!!!

I can't wait to read more!!

Me either! Thanks for subscribing!

Hooray! I can't wait to hear all about it!

Thanks for subscribing! It was a wonderful trip! I can't wait to tell you guys all about it!

I can't wait to hear about your trip.

Hello! A new person! Woo Hoo!! I can't wait to get started! Waiting on one more camera worth of pictures to get this party started!

Maroo, I can't wait to hear all about your trip with Lauren and her family!

Her family is the COOLEST! I can't wait to tell you about the trip, either. We had lots of adventures!

I am looking forward to hearing all about your trip!

Thanks for subscribing! I can't wait to share all of the details!

 

[maroo]

Ok...so...disclaimer first. This is my FIRST trip report! I went to DW with such GRAND intentions of taking pictures of EVERYTHING. But, I can already tell, on day one for goodness sakes, that I did not take ENOUGH pictures!! I PROMISE that I have more pictures and more fun stuff for future installments!

So hang in there with me...subscribe...and stay tuned!!

Ok, so this first installment is a little boring...I mean...how exciting can a drive to Disney World be? Well, you never know...

But, first, a little background. Lauren's wheelchair...

is a pretty complex piece of equipment. Even for those of you guys that are familiar with power chairs...this one is a Mercedes! It has an elevator that allows her to rise up to over my height (we wanted her to really dance with her prom date - eye to eye - and it helps when we move her to and from her chair, too) AND it has a recline feature that allows her to recline all the way back so that she can shift around and get comfortable in her chair. Not a cheap piece of equipment. Actually worth twice the value of my car...and I don't drive a piece of junk!

All that to say...we were NOT going to put THAT chair on ANY airplane...no matter how nice they were or how they insisted they would take care of her chair. Lauren calls her chair her "legs"...and we were not putting her legs laying on its side in the belly of the plane to hang out with the luggage. NOPE...sorry.

So...that brings me to the drive. I decided to drive the 12-14 hours from Misssissippi to Disney World so that I could drive her chair, our luggage, lots of food/snacks/drinks to save money, and some more of Lauren's medical stuff AND we would have her van to use while we were there. Lauren and her family were going to fly to DW the next day. This way Lauren would not be so tired before we even got started! (And, if all 5 of us drove down together...we might not like each other so much when we got there, ya know!)

Lauren had school on Thursday...the day I was supposed to leave. So...I had to wait till she was ready for me to steal her legs. (Poor thing!) She told me I could come after her history test and take her chair. Now here is a funny moment...We have the van loaded down with everything but her chair and I show up at her school and tell the lady guarding the door (we affectionately call her the "attendance nazi") that I need to see Lauren so I can steal her legs. The attendance nazi did not think this was funny. I mean, come on, get a sense of humor!! Lauren would laugh!

So, I go to exchange Lauren's mercedes with this piece of junk...but the DISboutiquers should note that she ALWAYS has that pillow you guys made her!

and off I go...Now picture this...If I had an extra hand, I would have taken a picture...

I am driving her EMPTY chair down the hall at school and out the door. Which would be funny enough, except I can't drive it well...I run into the the wall...I run into the door and off the sidewalk before I finally get a handle on driving that sucker! Meanwhile...the attendance nazi is giving me "the stare" ...she was not sure WHAT I was doing...where was I going with Lauren's legs? So I stopped by the desk and told her I was taking it to Disney World and then walked off...and left her staring at me like I was crazy!

So...OFF I GO!! The chair gets loaded and I set my cruise on FAST...uh...I mean...I follow the speed limit all the way to Disney World.

I made it all the way to Orlando by midnight (this should tell you something...but NOT that I sped at all! No, I would never break the law.) Aw...come on...it was all for THE CHILDREN!

So, I found a Best Western. I had Best Western gift cards from the Make a Wish foundation, so that was my choice...Best Western or Best Western. Ok, Best Western. I called and found a place that was close to Give Kids the World, which was my stop for the following morning. Now, at this point, I should have been worried when the directions said, "We are located right behind the IHOP." Ok, I don't have anything against pancakes...but IHOP's are usually not located in the nicest area of town and this was no exception. When I arrived to check in the guy behind the desk was watching TV that was not appropriate for my eyes...or ears... so...once I was checked in...I RAN to my hotel room....LOCKED the door...and went to sleep.

Next installment...GIVE KIDS THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

till then...if you have NO idea what Give Kids the World even is...you can check out this website...

www.gktw.org

and send them money. Or buy some souvenirs.... Or just check out the COOOOOOOLLL stuff that sick kids get to do while they are there!


CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE....

 

[MousekaMaddi]

love it so far, keep it coming please

 

[jillalvarez2003]

yes, yes, more PLEASE!

 

[teresajoy]

OOH, as soon as you said Best Western, I was worried!! Looks like you made it out of there ok though!!! So funny about the lady at the front door of the school!!! Poor Lauren without her cool wheels!!! At least she had her pillow though!

 

[jessica52877]

Love it! Love it! Love it!

Can I ask some questions! As in how long have you been working with Lauren and the family, I mean you are their family now and just fit right in! And how did you meet to start working with her! Sorry, I am just so curious! It seems everyone gets along so well.

 

[bex271]

I can't wait to hear more. We call Jonah's chair his hot wheels. Best Westerns aren't always in the best of places either. I definitely understanding running to your room.

becca

 

[mrsksomeday]

Fantastic start!!! I can't wait to hear all about it!! Lauren is beautiful. I am really looking forward to this trip report.

 

[maroo]

love it so far, keep it coming please

Ok...wow...you must have been reading as I was writing! You sure did send a comment FAST!! Maybe as fast as I drove to Disney World...

Uh...I mean.... Uh...

*runs away*

*sticks her head back in*

more coming, I promise!! I will post another update later today...I am working on it as I type...or will be...soon

 

[mom2lilnick]

Can't wait to read more!!

 

[maroo]

Ha! My multiquote didn't work on that last post... this time I will preview...sorry, rookie mistake!!

yes, yes, more PLEASE!

More is on the way today! I have the day off today, so I will be sending out installment #2 and working on #3. !! And it is really fantastic!!

OOH, as soon as you said Best Western, I was worried!! Looks like you made it out of there ok though!!! So funny about the lady at the front door of the school!!! Poor Lauren without her cool wheels!!! At least she had her pillow though!

Yeah...I have never stayed there. In Make-A-Wish's defense, though, they had made me reservations at a "nice" one (they are all individually owned and operated) and I just got there so FAST (did I say that?) that I kept driving. Then I was on my own. And I didn't really reserach it...AT ALL...so I just stayed there. I was just glad to be all the way and able to sleep all night.

Love it! Love it! Love it!

Can I ask some questions! As in how long have you been working with Lauren and the family, I mean you are their family now and just fit right in! And how did you meet to start working with her! Sorry, I am just so curious! It seems everyone gets along so well.

I definitely don't mind the question. It is actually a very long story...but I will tell you the short version and you guys can me let know if you want to know more. I started working with special needs kids at a camp in Arkansas. I spent many hours there in High School and fell in love with those kids! Fast forward many years...past college...and I end up going to a church here in town that is fabulous! They had a support group for parents of special needs children. And they needed a babysitter that had a clue to take care of the kids during the class. Honestly, they never used me for the class, I am sure that those parents were not going to leave their kids with some stranger and many of them have support systems that allow for others to keep their kids. So I ended up actually attending several of the meetings. I met Laurens parents through that group.

Then our church, which is very large, decided to launch a satellite campus closer to where I live. I hated to leave the big church location (which was a 30-40 min drive), where I had lots of friends. But I knew I was supposed to. I prayed for friends at the new church...specifically for someone that I could train for a triathlon with (believe me, I needed serious training!) and someone to each lunch with on Sundays (since I am single and bored!). So...the first Sunday I ran into Laurens family. At this point, I only knew the parents. But I begged them to go out to eat (funny, now, looking back). I think Lauren thought I was a crazy person. But if I could talk her parents into eating out, I was OK!

Turns out, they ride road bikes and also wanted to train for a triathlon. So I got BOTH of my prayer requests in one family! (Cool, huh!) Eventually I learned that Laurens dad was sick. That is a long story and not really mine to tell, but eventually Laurens parents had to leave town for 11 days to go to Mayo clinic to get some answers. During that 11 days, I helped both sets of grandparents make sure the kids were taken care of...get ready for school, meals (which were mostly provided by our church), carpool, homework...you know the drill. And I was working my full time job...and it was CRAZY!!!

So...after they got back, I told them I was available to them as much as they needed me till her dad got to feeling better. (He is doing a lot better, by the way!) So, I basically moved in to the upstairs room for several months. I do help with Lauren, but I am also friends with all of them. We have so much fun...Lauren's mom and I are work out buddies. I can now ride a bike over 30 miles without rolling over and dying. And we DID complete a small triathlon!

Now I am actually on the payroll from Medicaid that allows for a nurse assistant to help Lauren a few hours a week. So I do that and have a job now that is only 32 hours a week. This has helped me to be able to have some down time and still help Lauren and her family as much as possible.

Sorry, that was kinda long! And the short version!! If you want a longer version, let me know!

I can't wait to hear more. We call Jonah's chair his hot wheels. Best Westerns aren't always in the best of places either. I definitely understanding running to your room.

becca

Becca, thanks for joining us!! I have been watching your TR, too!! Yeah...don't stay at the Best Western by GKTW. When you drive by there, you will see what I mean...it is by all of those strip stores on 192.

Fantastic start!!! I can't wait to hear all about it!! Lauren is beautiful. I am really looking forward to this trip report.

Lauren is beautiful!! She is beautiful on the inside, too!! And it shows in all that she does. I can't wait to tell you more about the trip!!

 

[jessica52877]

Thank you for the sweet story of how you met! I knew there was so much more there then being Lauren's helper! It shines through in your personality.

 

[iu97alum]

LOVE IT! More please!!!

 

[mom2lilnick]

What a great story!!

 

[maroo]

Ok, what you have all been waiting for…the real trip begins!

Now, I must tell you. Lauren is ALL teenage girl. She loves makeup…and wants her hair to look perfect every day. But especially on this trip!

So, her FIRST surprise was that an awesome friend of ours offered to come fix her hair and makeup - her hairdresser – so, she was a real pro! She came very early on the morning that they left (I was already in Orlando…so this is second hand info).

Lauren is SO excited - but I guess that is pretty obvious!

And getting beautified! Isn't she cute! Forget the hair...she is already beautiful!

We would have brought Aunt Patty (that is what we call her, but she is not Lauren’s aunt) with us all the way to Disney World to do her hair. In fact…we might have to hide her in the luggage next time. Or she could just come help me drive! And do Lauren’s hair EVERY morning.



Aunt Patty showed up very early in the morning and it was worth it! Lauren looked FABULOUS!

And it was a good thing, too...because more surprises await....... But first... the drive there. I know lots of Wish kids get a Limo ride to the airport, but the Mississippi Chapter does not provide this, most likely because all wish kids get free parking for the whole trip! We will take another opportunity to do a limo ride at another time.

They all did seem to enjoy the trip to the airport, though...especially William, who kept taking pictures of himself! He is so handsome!

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