Make a Wish (and other organizations) ~ Wish Trippers UNITE! Volume FOUR!

[brookerene]

Hello! Some of you may recognize me as one of those "way back when" Wish Trip mum's from the earlier days of this thread. Since then, we've had a few trips back to WDW with our sons (one, our Wish kid, has cerebral palsy and other medical issues) so I try to pop in and offer advice on wish trip and special needs at WDW etc when I can...

And now I'm asking for a wee bit of help for a friend and her son.

I love to keep hearing how GKTW continues to touch so many lives. A long standing and dear friend of mine who lives way over in San Francisco (we live in Toronto, Canada) has a son who is doing a project to support GKTW (see below). You can read below that he had a specal guest planning to help out, but...so sad...that young man lost his battle to cancer after his wish was granted, but before he could help Tyler. I'm going to help her son by providing a video, but I thought maybe my Wish Tripper friends here could help him too.

For those of you who have experienced GKTW, how can you describe...in a single phrase, even a single word...how the experience impacted your Wish Child, your family, and you as a parent?

For me, the word is: uplifting. I felt as though for one week, our heavy burden was being shared by a loving community of angels.

Any thought for Tyler to share with his community?

Here's what my friend wrote:
"Tyler, my 7th grade son is doing a big philanthropy project on GKTW. He did a whole fund raising campaign with a poster board and all that but this week he needs to do an oral presentation to his school. One of my patients, an 8th grader with cancer was a guest there and we were going to have him come and speak for a couple of minutes, but sadly he passed away

I am wondering if you and or your son would feel comfortable taping a short video - something that said what it meant for him to be a guest, how he felt being there, if it made a positive impact on his life- and maybe you talking about how you felt as a parent of a kid with special needs, being taken care of in that way, as a mom - you know? If he didnt feel comfortable, it could just be you, if you want. I just felt like it would be so much more powerful coming from someone who really went through the experience of being there and having a "wish trip". Feeling normal, taken care of etc."

In one word... Blessed...

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

Today only...Shop at Disney Store and 5% will go to Make A Wish Foundation..plus free shipping.

This was a great opportunity to purchase my scrapbooking supplies for Ty's Wish trip. I wanted it all Disney and the fact that part of the procedes went to MAW was even better! Just wanted to throw this out there for the present WIsh Trippers in case they would like to purchase theirs on World Wish Day

 

[kailatilear]

Hello! Some of you may recognize me as one of those "way back when" Wish Trip mum's from the earlier days of this thread. Since then, we've had a few trips back to WDW with our sons (one, our Wish kid, has cerebral palsy and other medical issues) so I try to pop in and offer advice on wish trip and special needs at WDW etc when I can...

And now I'm asking for a wee bit of help for a friend and her son.

I love to keep hearing how GKTW continues to touch so many lives. A long standing and dear friend of mine who lives way over in San Francisco (we live in Toronto, Canada) has a son who is doing a project to support GKTW (see below). You can read below that he had a specal guest planning to help out, but...so sad...that young man lost his battle to cancer after his wish was granted, but before he could help Tyler. I'm going to help her son by providing a video, but I thought maybe my Wish Tripper friends here could help him too.

For those of you who have experienced GKTW, how can you describe...in a single phrase, even a single word...how the experience impacted your Wish Child, your family, and you as a parent?

For me, the word is: uplifting. I felt as though for one week, our heavy burden was being shared by a loving community of angels.

Any thought for Tyler to share with his community?

Here's what my friend wrote:
"Tyler, my 7th grade son is doing a big philanthropy project on GKTW. He did a whole fund raising campaign with a poster board and all that but this week he needs to do an oral presentation to his school. One of my patients, an 8th grader with cancer was a guest there and we were going to have him come and speak for a couple of minutes, but sadly he passed away

I am wondering if you and or your son would feel comfortable taping a short video - something that said what it meant for him to be a guest, how he felt being there, if it made a positive impact on his life- and maybe you talking about how you felt as a parent of a kid with special needs, being taken care of in that way, as a mom - you know? If he didnt feel comfortable, it could just be you, if you want. I just felt like it would be so much more powerful coming from someone who really went through the experience of being there and having a "wish trip". Feeling normal, taken care of etc."

Blessed, amazed, inspired, in awe. Sorry couldn't come up with just one.

 

[maroo]

i am not caught up on this thread yet........

but a quick answer to this...

Hello! Some of you may recognize me as one of those "way back when" Wish Trip mum's from the earlier days of this thread. Since then, we've had a few trips back to WDW with our sons (one, our Wish kid, has cerebral palsy and other medical issues) so I try to pop in and offer advice on wish trip and special needs at WDW etc when I can...

And now I'm asking for a wee bit of help for a friend and her son.

I love to keep hearing how GKTW continues to touch so many lives. A long standing and dear friend of mine who lives way over in San Francisco (we live in Toronto, Canada) has a son who is doing a project to support GKTW (see below). You can read below that he had a specal guest planning to help out, but...so sad...that young man lost his battle to cancer after his wish was granted, but before he could help Tyler. I'm going to help her son by providing a video, but I thought maybe my Wish Tripper friends here could help him too.

For those of you who have experienced GKTW, how can you describe...in a single phrase, even a single word...how the experience impacted your Wish Child, your family, and you as a parent?

For me, the word is: uplifting. I felt as though for one week, our heavy burden was being shared by a loving community of angels.

Any thought for Tyler to share with his community?

Here's what my friend wrote:
"Tyler, my 7th grade son is doing a big philanthropy project on GKTW. He did a whole fund raising campaign with a poster board and all that but this week he needs to do an oral presentation to his school. One of my patients, an 8th grader with cancer was a guest there and we were going to have him come and speak for a couple of minutes, but sadly he passed away

I am wondering if you and or your son would feel comfortable taping a short video - something that said what it meant for him to be a guest, how he felt being there, if it made a positive impact on his life- and maybe you talking about how you felt as a parent of a kid with special needs, being taken care of in that way, as a mom - you know? If he didnt feel comfortable, it could just be you, if you want. I just felt like it would be so much more powerful coming from someone who really went through the experience of being there and having a "wish trip". Feeling normal, taken care of etc."

He can totally use Lauren's video...if he wants to show it.

it is on YouTube - and has some GKTW pictures and such on there... Or I can email it to you in a video format...I think...I may have "lost" it when my other computer died...but I think I have saved on my master hard drive...??

Either way...

You have my phone number, which will be the best way to reach me for the next day or so...or send me a FB message - since those go to my phone now...

I will be back in a few to catch up on this thread and answer any questions, add pre-trippie links and TR links....

 

[Perrinsmommy]

We got an email friday that Perrin's wish had been adopted by Emerson and they want to throw Perrin's departure party!

So today we set up the date and time! It's for May 23rd at 1pm at Emerson Process Management! So excited! Our wish granters will be there and we will get all of our travel info!

 

[brookerene]

We got an email friday that Perrin's wish had been adopted by Emerson and they want to throw Perrin's departure party!

So today we set up the date and time! It's for May 23rd at 1pm at Emerson Process Management! So excited! Our wish granters will be there and we will get all of our travel info!

that sounds awesome!!!! I bet they'll throw an awesome party..!

 

[tinytreasures]

Nice to see you twinmum

My one word is WOW
Really nothing can describe the feeling of overwhelming love and caring you get from the min you walk in the door till you leave.
I think my kids are more excited to go back to GKTW then Disney. Shhh did I just say that

 

[newdrama12]

Trying to read between the line for some trip reports I read. Does GKTW have a store now? When we went we were told we had to buy stuff online because they didn't have anything there. Is that still true?

They do have a gift shop now. It is in the House of Hearts (where you checked it at) It is in the back by the media center.

 

[Mom2mitokids]

This is a video Kyra made about Mitochondrial Disease. This was a class project about her(in the beginning is all her friends and what she likes) and a Disease. I thought she and Kerri(she did all the editing) did an awesome job. Just a few mistakes that I caught, but couldn't change it and pronunciations. I even have a hard time saying some of these...lol





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qc6bqrsS0

 

[disneymomma01]

We finally got our dates!! We will be going October 1st thru the 8th!!! YAY!! Let the serious planning begin!!

 

[Shellyplus4]

This is a video Kyra made about Mitochondrial Disease. This was a class project about her(in the beginning is all her friends and what she likes) and a Disease. I thought she and Kerri(she did all the editing) did an awesome job. Just a few mistakes that I caught, but couldn't change it and pronunciations. I even have a hard time saying some of these...lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-qc6bqrsS0

Great video! My daughter also has mito.

 

[brookerene]

We finally got our dates!! We will be going October 1st thru the 8th!!! YAY!! Let the serious planning begin!!

That is awesome!

 

[mom2pixies]

We finally got our dates!! We will be going October 1st thru the 8th!!! YAY!! Let the serious planning begin!!

Very cool! We're hoping to go then, too--we are Halloween nuts!

 

[mommy2girlswv]

OK quick question: We received our MAW package today!! I've been looking at all the papers...Its states Adults-2 Children (3-?)-1 and Infant (0-2)-0...I think Infant should have 1 not 0...Did anybody that travel with infant 0-2 what did your say!!! Should I call MAW!!!

 

[brookerene]

OK quick question: We received our MAW package today!! I've been looking at all the papers...Its states Adults-2 Children (3-?)-1 and Infant (0-2)-0...I think Infant should have 1 not 0...Did anybody that travel with infant 0-2 what did your say!!! Should I call MAW!!!

I don't think it could hurt....although I know a child that age doesn't receive tickets because they are free in the parks and on planes....but I would think they should have 1 down because they still record a child that age flying....

 

[mommy2girlswv]

I had to call the airlines to add Kaitlyn... They didn't have her down!! They told us our seat numbers too..We aren't sitting together!! What can we do about that!!

 

[wishin' on a star]

If the plane is full and the airline won't make a change now, you may have to wait until you board and just ask the people around you to move. I would imagine that most people would be accomodating to a wish family with two small kids. The flight attendant might be able to help you out as well. I wouldn't stress about it...are at least two seats together so one of you can sit with January?

 

[mommy2girlswv]

If the plane is full and the airline won't make a change now, you may have to wait until you board and just ask the people around you to move. I would imagine that most people would be accomodating to a wish family with two small kids. The flight attendant might be able to help you out as well. I wouldn't stress about it...are at least two seats together so one of you can sit with January?

None of the seat are together

 

[mommy2girlswv]

If the plane is full and the airline won't make a change now, you may have to wait until you board and just ask the people around you to move. I would imagine that most people would be accomodating to a wish family with two small kids. The flight attendant might be able to help you out as well. I wouldn't stress about it...are at least two seats together so one of you can sit with January?

And not across from each other

 

[crashbb]

I had to call the airlines to add Kaitlyn... They didn't have her down!! They told us our seat numbers too..We aren't sitting together!! What can we do about that!!

When are you flying?

I've written this before for someone else, but it works well here as well. My "steps to take if you cannot book seats together".

1) Try calling the airline. Airlines hold back some seats and may be able to open up enough so that all children are beside one adult (not necessarily all 4 of you together).

2) Keep checking - people cancel flights/change seats. Take a pair if you can get it (or a triple). For people in the "single seats", choose ones that other people may want so that you have good seats to trade (i.e. aisle seats near the front of the plane).

3) Do online check in at the 24 hour mark. The seats that are held back are now opened up plus some people may have been upgraded. You have a good chance of moving to seats that are together.

4) Get to the airport early and ask the check-in agent if there are together seats that you can move to (again, people may have moved/upgraded/canceled).

5) When you get to the gate, talk to the gate agent. Changes are still happening and they may be able to help you.

6) If all else fails and you get on the plane and you have all single seats, nicely ask people if they would mind trading (but know that they have every right to reject the request). You have much better odds if you are offering your "better" seat. For example, if one seat is in row 5 and the other seat is in row 32, you'll do much better asking the person beside you in row 32 to move up to row 5 (and you and your child sit in row 32) than the opposite.

7) If you are still separated, you can choose to deplane and take a later flight. Before considering this, make sure you know if there are still together seats available on a subsequent flight (and that there IS a subsequent). Also, this will likely be at a cost to you.

I have NEVER seen anyone get to step 7 (not saying it doesn't happen, I've just never seen it) and rarely step 6 (generally only on holiday flights with lots of families none of whom want to sit split up or even go one adult/one child one place and another adult/child somewhere else).