Lexus and Children's Wish - Making Dreams Come True
Lexus is a very proud Platinum Partner of The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada. Working closely with our dealers and the Foundation, Lexus is helping to ensure that more courageous kids coping with a life threatening illness will see their wish fulfilled.
The stories below are just a few of the more than 12,500 life changing wishes that The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada has granted to date.
Darcy Gets the Beat
A wish came true for Darcy this July. Darcy is 14 years old and suffers from a rare blood disorder, but his desire for a Musical Shopping Spree allowed him to experience the carefree joy of a dream becoming reality.
His adventure started when he arrived from north-central Manitoba with his family and was hosted overnight at the Delta Hotel Winnipeg. He very much enjoyed full use of the two pools and the luxury afforded to his stay.
The excitement reached a crescendo in the morning as Darcy and his family were transported by limousine to Mother's Music. A full set of "Pearl Drums" and all peripheral accessories, including a very specifically requested set of Sabian cymbals, were awaiting his arrival. In no time at all, Darcy was fully engaged finding the beat.
It was some time before he was ready to end his practice, and prepared to take his new equipment home. On leaving, Darcy said, "I now have my dream : drums".
Through donations and volunteering, many compassionate individuals and companies demonstrate their caring for the special children served by Children's Wish. Making a wish come true for a child like Darcy, and providing an occasion dedicated to forming a positive childhood memory, where treatments and pain are no longer the focus but the chance to celebrate life is foremost, simply is a remarkable gift.
Kelten's Story
I remember one day in March of this year, my son Kelten came home with artwork that he had drawn at school. Like all his artwork, it was amazing, but this time it was special. He sat down and showed me a large piece of paper where he had drawn a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and then explained that he had made three wishes. He wished that the doctors would find out what was making him sick, he wished he would feel better and he wished he could go on a cruise. Like Kelten, I had wished the same, but I was surprised at his wish to take a cruise as I had never heard him mention a cruise before. Then, about two months later, all of Kelten’s wishes began to come true.
About three years ago, at the age of four, Kelten became ill. He was admitted to hospital almost monthly, had weekly doctor’s appointments and many, many needles and tests. No one could tell us why this once healthy boy was getting sicker. But from the beginning, Kelten never complained, he just kept believing. Every time he went through a new test he would just say, “this might be the one with the answers.” After about three years and still no answers, Kelten still had hope, which is why he drew the picture. Then everything began to come together.
At the age of 7, Kelten was finally diagnosed with Lupus with central nervous system and blood vessel involvement. With this came some ups and downs but it did give us an answer. Currently there is no cure for Lupus, but it is manageable thanks to supervision from a team of doctors and through medication.
About a month after Kelten was diagnosed, we met with the Children’s Wish Foundation. We can not say enough about the Children’s Wish Foundation and their sponsor, Lexus. They helped Kelten reach the pot of gold at the end of his rainbow and have shown him that dreams do come true.
So when it was time for Kelten to make a wish, he knew exactly what it would be; a cruise. The Children’s Wish Foundation arranged the most amazing vacation for our family. Along with my husband, Kelten and our daughter Makayla, we went to Disney World for four days and then on the Disney cruise ship for three days. This wish has given us so many amazing memories.
Thank you so very much to everyone who made Kelten’s wish possible.
Jacob's Story
5 year old Jacob has a happy smile, big brown eyes and an outgoing personality - He also has to cope daily with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or ALL. Jacob loves people and according to his family, he brightens a room with his presence and compassion for others, even during the worst periods of his own illness.
From the age of two, Jacob would dance and entertain his family, and wherever he went, he made friends. During one family camping trip, Jacob stood at the entrance to the campground and welcomed
every passer-by, earning him the nickname of "Campground Greeter."
But with Mom, Dad and little sister along, the camper his growing family had was too small, and it lacked some of the necessities needed to help make life easier and Jacob comfortable during his illness.
What he wished for, Jacob said, was a bigger camper, one big enough to allow his grandparents to come camping with him. (He added that a camper with a pool inside would be nice - Jacob has a sense of humour!)
Lexus helped to grant Jacob's wish and the bigger camper (with a shower instead of a pool) was delivered just in time for the summer camp outs of 2007.
Darian's Story
Dear Children's Wish Foundation,
Sorry it took so long to write this. Our lives have been busy, but you have been in our thoughts constantly.
The Children's Wish Foundation granted Darian's wish for a whale watching adventure in Maui for his 7th birthday. Darian is our 7-year old Downs child. Not long ago he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and has braved treatment since. Darian has always had a fascination with marine life, and a desire to see it up close and personal, so the opportunity to travel to Hawaii was incredible.
Given the many complications associated with treatment, we had our doubts about the travel. Darian turned out to be well enough, and he took the plane ride very well. You were so thoughtful to get us a room with a kitchenette so we could easily store all of his chemo drugs and prepare his meals as he has many dietary restrictions.
The trip was amazing. He LOVED the little pool and swam every day. He seemed to gain strength from the sun and the sand, though he still slept a great deal in the quiet of the afternoons and evenings. The whale watching adventure was scheduled for his birthday and he was THRILLED. Another day, we took him to the Maui Ocean Centre where he saw fish and all sorts of sea life. He sat in his baby jogger and watched the fish in awe. We got him a DVD of the fish and he now constantly watches it and Free Willy. When he is not well he says "Whale" and we put it on for him. On the last day he was feeling good so we took him in his baby jogger on a "Save the Whales" run.
I cannot express our appreciation enough. Darian has continued to gain strength since his return from that magical healing place. He is now growing hair quickly and is back in school full time. He is talking more and has more energy. He has 4 more years to go of chemo and cancer treatments. We all take his illness and recovery day by day since there are many ups and downs and no guarantees. But, today our boy is happy!
I'm sure you get a lot of mail saying how wonderful your Foundation is for many ill children, but we wanted to express our thoughts. You should be very proud of your efforts and know that what your Foundation does is linked to the healing process for children like Darian.
Thank you so much from all of us,
Connie, Aaron, Robert and (of course) Darian
