new blog: The Power of 10 Helps Make Catherine’s Disney Wish Come True

[LeahZ]

http://www.disunplugged.com/2011/09/09/the-power-of-10-helps-make-catherines-disney-wish-come-true/

 

[BayouMickey]

First let me say, I'm very happy that this child was granted her wish. I feel all children's wishes should be granted.
With that said, I have to ask seriously??

Before I continue let me give you a little background. My youngest daughter was also diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age two, with one major difference.. Not only is she insulin dependant, she is also insulin resistant. In fact she was diagnosed 2 weeks before her first trip to WDW after going into ketoacidosis and almost slipped into a coma.

I cannot fanthom the idea of using this as a means to get a free trip or any type of, I guess you can say, "handout" knowing there is children in far more dire straights. Neither can she. She sees herself as a normal child who so happens to have a medical condition that she has to live with. She often even refuses help from her own parents.. At age 9 she is able to test herself, figure out her bolus rate and program her pump to recieve the correct insulin.
It's a far cry from children with such deteriating conditions that lifting their heads is a near impossible feat.

And I know for fact that in the DIS community there are other families in the very same situation.
I know this was meant to be a feel good story, but it's hard to feel good reading something like this when we are going through a near same situation, and would never dare think of doing this, while thinking that we would be taking away from a child who would really need a last wish more..

 

[Tinker 2000]

Well...
I think it is wonderful that Power of Ten and Give Kid's the World have helped Catherine's wish be granted. Bayou Mickey, it sounds like you have a very brave and special little girl. What a blessing to have her in your life, and be able to take her to Disneyworld. From reading your post it sounds as if you have been able to enjoy more than one trip to the Kingdom with her.

In Catherine's case, I assume that her family would not have been able to grant her this special wish without financial assistance. Isn't that what Give Kid's the World and the Power of Ten is all about? Catherine and her family will be able to enjoy a magical vacation together while she is healthy enough to enjoy it.

Have a great time on your trip Catherine and enjoy your cotton candy!!!!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

First let me say, I'm very happy that this child was granted her wish. I feel all children's wishes should be granted.
With that said, I have to ask seriously??

Before I continue let me give you a little background. My youngest daughter was also diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age two, with one major difference.. Not only is she insulin dependant, she is also insulin resistant. In fact she was diagnosed 2 weeks before her first trip to WDW after going into ketoacidosis and almost slipped into a coma.

I cannot fanthom the idea of using this as a means to get a free trip or any type of, I guess you can say, "handout" knowing there is children in far more dire straights. Neither can she. She sees herself as a normal child who so happens to have a medical condition that she has to live with. She often even refuses help from her own parents.. At age 9 she is able to test herself, figure out her bolus rate and program her pump to recieve the correct insulin.
It's a far cry from children with such deteriating conditions that lifting their heads is a near impossible feat.

And I know for fact that in the DIS community there are other families in the very same situation.
I know this was meant to be a feel good story, but it's hard to feel good reading something like this when we are going through a near same situation, and would never dare think of doing this, while thinking that we would be taking away from a child who would really need a last wish more..

Thanks so much for sharing, and I want to wish all the best for your daughter. She sounds like such a very, very strong child, and you sound like such a great parent.

I just want to say that I've had to deal with some medical situations in my own family, and it's opened my eyes to some things. I've learned not to judge, and everyone needs to deal with the challenges life puts in front of them in their own way. If the doctors and Make-a-Wish foundation have decided that this family deserves a wish, then that is good enough for me. They're the experts, and I would like to think that it is not taking away wishes from anyone.

That's what the fundraiser is all about, trying to make sure that everyone that has a wish to go to WDW is able to have that wish come true.

 

[getfed]

First let me say, I'm very happy that this child was granted her wish. I feel all children's wishes should be granted.
With that said, I have to ask seriously??

Before I continue let me give you a little background. My youngest daughter was also diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age two, with one major difference.. Not only is she insulin dependant, she is also insulin resistant. In fact she was diagnosed 2 weeks before her first trip to WDW after going into ketoacidosis and almost slipped into a coma.

I cannot fanthom the idea of using this as a means to get a free trip or any type of, I guess you can say, "handout" knowing there is children in far more dire straights. Neither can she. She sees herself as a normal child who so happens to have a medical condition that she has to live with. She often even refuses help from her own parents.. At age 9 she is able to test herself, figure out her bolus rate and program her pump to recieve the correct insulin.
It's a far cry from children with such deteriating conditions that lifting their heads is a near impossible feat.

And I know for fact that in the DIS community there are other families in the very same situation.
I know this was meant to be a feel good story, but it's hard to feel good reading something like this when we are going through a near same situation, and would never dare think of doing this, while thinking that we would be taking away from a child who would really need a last wish more..

Hello BayouMickey and other friends,

I am Catherine's father, and I want to make a few clarifications about Make a Wish to make sure that people don't walk away with the wrong ideas. This in not intended as a flame in any way. We have walked down a very similar road, and I feel for you and your family. I will be thrilled if by age 9 that Catherine can care for her diabetes needs on her own. At the moment, we still have a long way to go.

There are just a few things about Make a Wish that people misunderstand. I encourage anyone who is concerned to read one of the many FAQ's about Make a Wish at their regional websites. I can't post a link to one since I don't have enough posts on the boards, but they are easy to find. Search for 'make a wish FAQ'

First, Make a Wish does not only grant wishes to children with terminal illnesses. The illness must be life threatening, but over half of the children who are granted wishes live long past their wish. Wishes often inspire children to continue their fight with their illness with renewed vigor. In the case of diabetes, the wish granters we met with from Make a Wish told us that they would like to see MORE children with diabetes nominated for wishes. Our chapter of Make a Wish is actually reaching out to local endocrinologists to ask them to start referring more patients. I know that we like to think of our kids as normal, but every school year I have to spend hours with her new teacher training them on how to test sugars and give her insulin and watch for signs of high and low sugars. I also have to pull out the really big glucagon needle and assure them that we have never had to use it.....but if she should pass out or have a seizure, they need to know how to use it or she could die. I have never had to get up in the middle of the night to check on my other children and pray that they are still breathing when I looked in. None of my other kids missed 28 days of kindergarten due to hospitalizations and illness. I agree that not every child with diabetes would qualify as having their lives threatened, but there are many who do on a regular basis. Wishes are referred by Doctors, and Make a Wish interviews the doctors to make sure that the child meets their criteria. A parent can request to be considered, but the qualification is all up to the doctor and Make a Wish.

Second, receiving a wish does not take away a wish from some 'more deserving child'. All children who qualify for a wish are granted one. We were concerned about this ourselves, but we were assured several times by our wish granters that this was not the case. It is also outlined in the FAQs on their websites. Wishes do not depend on a family's income either. Many things that children wish for cannot be purchased even by a family with money. Yes, a family could pay for their own trip to Disney, but there are special surprises and special treatment at GKTW and Disney that no money can buy. Likewise, a family could not buy a visit with many of the stars that give their time to fulfilling wishes. Families who receive wishes are not required to do anything or pay anything to Make a Wish. Personally, we have already volunteered to participate in 3 fundraisers raising over $25,000 for Make a Wish, and I am sure we will help with more in the future. We also intend to personally donate more than the cost of our wish to Make a Wish over the next few years.

Third, being granted a wish is not about getting a free trip. It is about giving hope to a sick child. She could have wished to go anywhere she wanted, to meet anyone she wanted, to have a shopping spree or a special room makeover. She visited Disney 3 years ago, and she has such good memories of the trip that it was the second thing she thought of when she was asked what she would like to wish for if she could do anything (the first was to go to her favorite restaurant).

As for the other DIS families in the same situation, I strongly suggest that you talk with your doctor and your local chapter of Make a Wish about if you qualify for one. You may be surprised at how excited they are about helping you to get a wish. Maybe your children will be more creative about what they wish for than a trip to Disney, however, I know a family with 2 sick kids, and they wished for 2 separate trips to Disney. I do know that there are other children with diabetes local to me who have been granted wishes, but most do not talk about it for fear of the these kind of reactions from people who say that diabetes is no big deal. I assure you that it is a big deal, and everyone we have talked to from Make a Wish agrees. Also, by downplaying the seriousness of diabetes, we are not giving it the weight we need to make sure that we find a cure as soon as possible. Diabetes is the most expensive disease in terms of lifetime care in this country, and we personally know 3 families of children who have died recently from it.

 

[getfed]

Just a quick update and clarification on my previous post. Make-a-Wish's official policy is still not to grant wishes to children with just diabetes unless they have some other complicating condition. Catherine was accepted for a wish due to her 3 seizures in the past year. However, if you live in an area with Dream Factory, I am told that they will grant wishes to children with diabetes or any chronic disease. The catch is that they only serve certain areas. So any family with diabetes should look into Dream Factory. Hope that this helps those of you out there who need this kind of hope in your lives. By the way, our trip was amazing. I am hopeful that I will have time to write about it soon.

 

[sayhello]

Thanks so much, getfed, for your input. I have to admit that when I read Bayou Mickey's post (before reading the blog) I was starting to agree with her (but I also have to admit I don't know any kids with Juvenile diabetes, although I know several adults who have had it since childhood). But I'm very glad that the facts actually proved me wrong. Again, thank you for straightening me out, and getting rid of a misconception I had about Make a Wish.

I'm glad that you guys had a fabulous trip!

Sayhello