Dear editor:
About a year ago our son (Dalton Stevens) was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called MECP2 duplication syndrome. There are only two hundred known cases in the United States. It is a progressive disorder which causes a lot of respiratory infections, and it becomes life threatening after a while.
Recently Dalton was granted a wish from the Make a Wish Program and they sent us on a vocation to Florida to a place called Give the Kids the World. This was an amazing place, and it is just for kids who get granted a wish through Make a Wish. At this little village they have everything including two swimming pools. One is set up so wheel chairs can be rolled in to it. They have an ice cream parlor that is open from 7:30 am until 10 pm so the kids can have ice cream at any time – even breakfast. They also have a gingerbread house that serves breakfast and dinner and another little café that serves lunches and dinners and delivers a pizza until 10 pm. This is all free to the families that stay there. Also located on the premises is a movie theater and a game room.
The whole trip was planned very well by Make A Wish starting with the limo ride to and from Albany airport and a rental car when we arrived in Florida. Then the Give the Kids the World organized everything else that we wanted to do. We went to Sea World one day, Disney for two days and Universal Studios for two days and relaxed on the last day. Dalton was able to meet and have his picture taken with over twenty characters.
Our son has not interacted with others as much as he used to, but when we arrived in Florida and he started to see all the colorful surroundings he perked up and started to be very vocal in making noises. This vacation has been one of the best things that has happened to him in a very long time, and we have noticed a change in him since the trip.
None of this could have happened without the Make A Wish Program and Give the Kids the World Village, and we want to thank them for making this a very happy and unforgettable vacation.
Thank you
The parents of Dalton – Kevin and Theresa Stevens
19 Mill Street, Berlin
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