Make A Wish

After the decision was made to decline radiation/chemo, we started treating Daniel using as many natural foods and supplements as we could afford. Since Daniel was not yet able to swallow pills, we had to mix the crushed pills or emptied capsules into some jello, pudding, or applesauce. This didn't cover up the taste very well and still tasted pretty gross - so the whole process of getting these supplements down his throat took lots of time every day. We also started using the Rife machine that I had mentioned in an earlier post. Wes's dad had purchased another Rife machine (so we had two different kinds) - this one delivered the electric frequency via handles (they look like jump rope handles) instead of a flashing light. We used both of these machines every day. Daniel was still needing large doses of pain medication.

One day, a few weeks after our decision was made to decline treatment, Daniel woke up in the morning feeling very lethargic. He stayed in bed pretty much all day and slept - and the few times he did wake up, he was in a great deal of pain. Because the oncologist had warned us repeatedly that Daniel's time was short, the thought could not escape our minds that perhaps this was the end. It was a very dark day. Wes and I didn't know what to do. There was nothing we COULD do. Wes and I just sat there with Daniel off and on - we looked into each other's eyes and saw the same thing - tears constantly on the verge of spilling out, and fear of losing our son. We called our Pastor, and he came by and prayed with us. Pretty late that evening, Daniel awoke and said he felt like sitting up. He eventually got up and walked around. He said he felt much better. Wes and I breathed sighs of relief. This was the first of about 2 or 3 occasions where we thought death was imminent. Looking back, it could be that Daniel's body was so tired from fighting a surgery recovery and fighting the disease at the same time. Or it could be that the morphine had reached a saturation point. I really don't know - but we were so incredibly relieved and thankful to the Lord for giving us more time with him.

Right around the last week of November, we got a call from Make A Wish. A few Make A Wish representatives wanted to come out to our house and grant Daniel a wish! These representatives were so wonderful and nice - I "wish" I could remember their names. We talked with Daniel before their visit about the different kinds of wishes he could make. He wanted to take a trip. We had been to Disneyland several times, but never Disneyworld. So Daniel's wish was to go to Disneyworld. We told the representatives his story and his prognosis. We told him he was given only a short time to live. So the Make A Wish foundation sprang into action. In just a few days, they had arranged the entire trip for us and told us we could leave as soon as we were ready. The night before the flight, Make A Wish threw a party for Daniel - we decided to have the party at Wes's sister and brother-in-law's house, since they live close by the airport. A limo picked us up in front of our house and took us to Vancouver. All of Wes's family was there at the party, as well as a few neighbors of ours. Make A Wish had booked a room for us at the Embassy suites for later that evening.

The next day our whole family got on the plane heading to Florida.
Every one of us had on large Make A Wish buttons, so everywhere we went people gave us the royal treatment. On the plane, we were given whatever snacks or drinks we wanted. By this time, the steroids had completely changed Daniel's body. He no longer looked like the same person. He had gained so much weight that he actually weighed as much then, at age 6, as he weighs right now at 15. Before the trip we had started weaning him off the steroids but the effects were still very visible, and he still had a huge appetite. Fortunately, Make A Wish had given us so much money for food, that we literally could not use it all if we had tried.

Make A Wish booked us a room at the Polynesian - a very nice Hawaiian-themed hotel inside Disneyworld, complete with a man-made "beach" right outside and several amazing pools. We were able to stay at Disneyworld for one week - Thanksgiving week. We used a stroller for Daniel so that he didn't have to spend much time walking. Daniel's favorite thing was the pool, and he seemed to feel his best when he was in one. We ate at all the fanciest restaurants. Make A Wish had even given us money to spend on souvenirs.

While in Orlando, we visited "Give Kids the World" -a resort owned and operated by the MAW organization, for MAW families. There we met a family whose daughter also wished for a trip to Disneyworld. She had a heart transplant and was doing well. I remember feeling jealous of that family. Their child was expected to recover and live, and ours was expected to die. And it made me so upset. Later, I found out this is a very real phenomenon - it's called "tumor envy" - although in this case, the family didn't have a child with cancer, but a child with a heart condition. I had to learn to be thankful for the wellness and healing of other children, and happy for the families.

To say this trip was wonderful would be an understatement. We were able to step out of the "darkness" of our lives at home, and just have fun. And the amazing thing is how well Daniel felt the whole trip long! His pain and symptoms almost seemed to disappear. I know the prayers of the saints and a merciful God had everything to do with it. Ironically, on the last day, we were returning our rental car at the airport, and Daniel started feeling sick right then, and threw up. He went downhill very quickly from this point.

(I would like to say that Make A Wish is an INCREDIBLE organization, that goes above and beyond expectations, for each and every Make A Wish child.)