Make A Wish

fly free

Published on May 21, 2004 By gothic impulse In Blogging

I reveived a call from the Make A Wish Foundation last year. A small boy's wish was to go Australia Zoo and Underwater World, could we help? The answer YES of course.

We set aside a penthouse for a week, for him and his family ...the staff decorating it with balloons and filling the fridge with food.
I contacted local businesses who were all more than willing to help out. With vouchers for meals, attractions and a free hire car for the week.

Watching this family together, seeing the joy on his face over the smallest things I remember one morning watching them as they waited for the courtesy bus to go on a tour ...the closeness ..the love ....he and his little sister cuddled on a chair ....then seeing his mother for that split second she let her guard down ..the pain ..the sorrow ..the fear ....then mask firmly back in place she turned to him and smiled.

I can't even come close to imagining the courage and torment of this woman. Watching your child die and knowing you can't do anything to prevent it. All the time smiling and joking and trying to stay calm and appear happy and positive .....while inside your heart is breaking into thousands of tiny pieces.

Mother and son came to visit me in my office, to say thank you and tell me how great a time they were having. They had been treated like VIPs at the places they had visited, received many gifts and as she was speaking I could see this mum was close to tears. So i asked if I could steal her son and go for some ice cream.

We went an ordered two digustingly sickly sundaes and as we sat down, I thought what do I say...as if sensing my uncertainty this wise little man ...looked me in the eye and said " it's ok, I know I'm going to die and I'm not afraid. I'm going to fit as much fun in as I can before I go. I just feel sorry for my family cause I know they will miss me." So we talked about anything he wanted, about death some , about what he would have done with his life.

I learnt some valuable lessons about life that day from this very wise little man. I also learnt that he had wanted to be a pilot when he grew up. So I called the local airfield and over the next two days he was taken for a scenic flight over the coast, a helicopter joy flight and up in an old bi-plane. The day before they left I was talking to a collegue and telling her about his dreams. She arranged for him to go up in her husband's glider.

Saying goodbye to this family was hard, half the staff were fighting back tears. We were presented with a picture that he drew, which is still on our office wall. I asked him if he had enjoyed his holiday. Huge smile flashing he said " yes! you know what i liked the most? The glider ..
now I know how it will feel when i'm an angel."

This brave little man passed away on the 19th may 2004 ....two days before his 9th birthday.

Rest in peace, you touched our hearts and souls and will never be forgotten
May your spirit soar high and free ..just like the glider

Jess

Anyone wanting to know more about the Make A Wish Organisation, here is the link. .... Link

Comments

Sally jacobs

on May 21, 2004

OMG! How sad, I'm close to tears. How do you do that? i so wouldn't be strong enough! What a brave kid, we can all learn alot from his strength! Aww...words aren't enough for this one

dharmagrl

on May 21, 2004

Shit Jess, you got me blubbing again.

Just when I think I have it bad, life kicks me in the ass with a reminder that I really don't have it so bad after all.

gothic impulse

on May 21, 2004

I know Dharma ..believe me I know.

This little man and his family taught me so much about love and accepting what you can't change, just getting on with things and doing the best you can.

I really can't come close to describing the impact he had on me.

I just needed to do something to acknowlege his too short life, ..ya know.

Sally, I don't know how anyone can do that. Watching that mum tore into my heart.

I do know that the Make a Wish Foundation is brilliant and I can't do enough for them.

Jess

Cann1bal

on May 21, 2004

I cried... there is just something about you Jessica.. I will never be able to put my finger on it... I dont care how long we are married dating whatever... I will never be able to put my finger on it... and for that Im glad.
Thats all i can say
Thomas

WiseFawn

on May 22, 2004

What a wonderful organization Make A Wish Foundation is! And how wonderful people like you were there to grant these wishes. These brave little souls and their families can teach us all about what is really important.
This is a lovely tribute to him.

gothic impulse

on May 22, 2004

TY Thomas ...I cried too, when i got the news. For a long time. I cried when I wrote this, I cried when we talked about it.

WF..yes it is a wonderful organisation and when you see those beaming little faces it's easy to help.
Yes these little brave, wise souls ........
and their families.

Jess

gothic impulse

on May 25, 2004

OK ..for anyone interested ..I have added the link to the article

Jess

notsohighlyevolved

on May 25, 2004

You did a great thing (you gave more than many of us ever could and you were thankful for it)

He accomplished a great thing (he understood before his time and he left his mark on the only history that counts)

Both of you should be proud.

Marco XX

gothic impulse

on May 26, 2004

Thanks for that Marco ... it was a really nce thing to say.

Jess

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!