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June 16, 2006
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The Friday Flyer Assistant Editor
Jessi Riddle, 11, was recently granted a wish from the Make a Wish Foundation when she and her parents, Paul and Lynn Riddle and sister Jami, 9, received a first class trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, from June 4 to 10.
Paul, a captain in the South Pasadena Fire Department, says his family was picked up from their home in Canyon Lake in a limousine and traveled first class the entire trip. They stayed six days in a deluxe resort where Jessi and Jami received what he calls “princess-style” treatment thanks to a program that works in conjunction with the Make a Wish Foundation called Give Kids The World.
Readers are probably aware that trips provided by foundations of this type mean one thing: the child for whom the foundation is granting a wish is suffering from a life-threatening illness – so the vacation, no matter how wonderful it is, is a mixed blessing.
Give Kids The World Village is a non-profit resort that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Wish-granting organizations coordinate transportation to Orlando, while Give Kids The World provides accommodations at its whimsical resort, attractions tickets, and meals for a weeklong fantasy vacation. Since its founding in 1986, Give Kids The World has welcomed families from all 50 states and 50 countries, including another Canyon Lake girl, now 11, Jessica Zermeno.
Unfortunately, Jessi Riddle’s disease matches her name – it’s a riddle to doctors who say they have no case studies that match her symptoms. “Essentially, it’s a rare blood disorder in which the cells of her blood are being poisoned by something in her body,” Paul explains.
Her symptoms, which began at the age of six months old, mimic leukemia in that she occasionally gets very high fevers of 105 degrees or more. She has received treatments at Children’s Hospital of San Diego most of her life, but recently a panel of doctors at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York agreed to look over her case. “It may turn out she’ll receive treatments there,” says Paul.
Fortunately, the illness hasn’t kept her from attending school. She is just now graduating from 6th grade at Calvary Chapel Christian School in Murrieta. Her little sister, Jami, 9, is being promoted from 3rd grade.
Nothing could have been more perfect for the youngsters and their parents than a trip to Disney World and Give Kids The World Village. “After spending time at Give Kids The World Village and observing young boys and girls facing the challenges of their illnesses with such a positive attitude, it forces you to sit back and re-evaluate what’s really important in life,” says Paul.
“It reinforces the fact that, in the end, all our ‘stuff’ just doesn’t matter. The only things that truly matter are the relationship we have with our Savior and the love and support that can only come from family and true friends,” he continues. “Lynn and I would like to thank everyone for your continued thoughts and prayers. Do yourself good and never pass up the moment to hug your kids and tell them you love them because life truly is precious.”
Give Kids The World
According the website gktw.org, Give Kids The World was first founded after a businessman named Henri Landwirth, well respected in the Central Florida hotel industry, offered accommodations at his hotel establishment to a family whose young daughter was suffering from leukemia. Unfortunately, the girl died before the family was able to finalize a multitude of arrangements for her special trip.
Landwirth immediately called upon colleagues in the hospitality industry, including the world-famous theme parks, to assist him with a project to bring families to Central Florida with less than 24 hours notice, if the situation called for such action. Before long, Henri and two staff members began arranging Wish vacations out of a converted storeroom in one of his hotels.
Soon major corporations committed to providing many of the services families would require in their stay, but the number of requests was quickly outgrowing the lodging that the hotel industry could provide. In addition, the hotels at the time were not equipped to deal with the needs of families with children with life-threatening illnesses.
With help from friends from his early days as a hotel manager in Cocoa Beach, Henri’s vision soon became a reality. In 1986, Give Kids The World was officially founded; and in early 1989, Give Kids The World Village was able to open its gates to welcome its very first family.
Today, the Village features 96 villas, a whimsical restaurant, a play area in the shape of a castle, an ice cream palace, a movie theater, an interactive water park, a fishing pond, a peaceful chapel and so much more. From the very first family who visited in 1986, to the families that are arriving at the gates of the Village today, thousands of Wish Families each year have enjoyed a few precious days away from hospitals, doctor visits and medical treatments.
For one week, parents have the chance to see their children laughing and having fun, without worrying about doctors or hospitals. And kids get the opportunity to see their parents having fun and not worrying about money, appointments, or anything at all. United in their desire to be a family and to have fun, they relax in a special environment filled with laughter, joy and hugs.
Those who know of a child with a life threatening illness and would like information, contact Give Kids the World at 210 S. Bass Rd., Kissimmee, Florida 34746; or visit gktw.org.
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