Once again, I have a flurry of updates! I haven’t had a chance to tell you more about our visit with Shelli, our Wish Granter, who dropped off Mark’s Wish Package last week. We invited Shelli to come and stay for dinner and the evening, and it was a lovely opportunity for her to spend lots of time with the boys.
Shelli has been working on an arts project for her home. A painter herself, she has asked many important people in her life to help her with this, and she asked the boys to contribute. She arrived with a 5”X7” canvas for each of them, and a selection of paints in the palate she has in her living room. She showed us how she has framed other canvasses at home – 3 to a frame, consistent frames so it looks like a collage, some horizontal, some vertical. It is a wonderful personal, unique collage…and now our boys will be part of it.
Here they are working steadily on their canvasses.
We had a fun dinner, then shared the excitement of opening Tracie’s Big Give package (see previous post).
And then it was time for the Wish Package! When Shelli had told me “the package” was ready, I pictured a fairly good sized envelope. OK, well…I was wrong!
Apparently, THIS is what a “Wish Package” looks like:
Yup, something tells me there’s more in there than tickets and a confirmation for a rental car!
After the boys got over their shock, they dove in – Shelli had made it clear that the box was for all of us, but especially the two of them. Yes, indeed, right on top was a Starlight Starbright passport/ticket holder for me. To be honest, it was the most welcome gift that night, because it contained confirmation of all the marvelous things we’d been told…but there is simply no substitute for holding an Air Canada e-ticket – with seat selection already complete - right in your hot little hand…for having an actual confirmation number for a rental car…a tips sheet from Give Kids the World…a lovely expense cheque...and a personalized itinerary that confirmed absolutely everything. Ah…relief…back to a sense of control…
But the boys didn’t stop there for long. They dove into the box.
Just below was a delightful Winnie the Pooh bear. Both boys immediately said, “Polly would love this!”, a reference to our Nanny who left in August, and who had bequeathed (reluctantly) her own Pooh Bear to one of her nephews. I think the boys would like to pass this one along to her (“I really think she missed he Winnie, Mummy – we should give her ours.”
Beneath that, was a clear plastic bag filled with goodies, treat that could be sued on the plane, word puzzle books, sunscreen, hats, all kinds of things that would be useful on the trip.
And below that, a pile of wrapped gifts!!!
Said Mark, “this is just like Christmas!” Shelli just beamed as she watched their delight. They both received a different Chroncicles of Narnia book, both some
Lego, an additional Mission Mars Lego for Douglas, a microscope with projector screen for Mark (yes, there’s a similarity to the one he picked out at that Starlight event a couple of weeks ago!), and both received SpyGear night vision goggles! WOW!!! I had NO IDEA that this was going to happen!
Shelli, Mark, and Douglas had a great time exploring the contents of the box and I have tried to capture some of it here. Unfortunately, my photographer skills do not live up to the sheer joy and excitement of the occasion. After a while, they saw me reviewing the contents of the passport holder. It also included guides to each of the WDW parks, plus Seaworld and Universal. After some further review, Mark commented sagely, Mummy, I think we’re going to have a really, really really good time.”
I think he’s right! We’re going to create some magical memories, away from appointments, doctors, hospitals, g-tubes (mostly), physiotherapy and the like. Mark will always face the challenges of his disability, and he will be there to help him on his way, but there are certainly magical times ahead.
Thank you, Starlight, Starbright!
Next up…but does this family of Canadian Wish Trippers actually have an itinerary?!? Find out soon!
Alison
I used to read that story to the day care kids when I worked in a day care. I always cried. 
Thanks for sharing the pictures!
whether they like it or not...they always love the part where the baby is flushing stuff down the toilet.
