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| Make a Fantasy Come True |
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| David's Fantasy |
| "My Fantasy Came True" |
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| For a little boy, childhood is a time of laughter, running, jumping and playing hide and seek with friends until dark. Childhood for eleven-year-old David was no different until one unsuspecting morning he awoke with some alarming |
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| symptoms. After coming home from school feeling a little ill the day before, David had no idea that the next day he would be faced with life-changing ircumstances. When David's mother, Mary, a mother of two, woke him for school,she noticed that David seemed to have discoloration of the skin that appeared he had been picking blueberries the night before. |
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| Being
a concerned mother, Mary
called her mother-in-law,
a nurse, to take a look
at her grandson's condition.
She immediately suspected
trouble and they rushed
David to the local hospital
where it was necessary for
him to undergo a spinal
tap. After the test
results were in, doctors
advised the parents to have
David life-flighted to Hermann
Hospital for further testing.
The test results revealed
that David had |
| meningitis.
Their worst fears were coming
to life, that the parents
of David could possibly
lose their son to this deadly
disease. Immediately,
it was decided by doctors
that to save Larry and Mary's
son, amputation of both
legs and one hand would
be necessary. Thankful
that David could be saved,
they quickly agreed.
Within hours, David had
undergone the surgery.
Supported by friends and
family and after many prayers,
the family knew that they
had done the right thing.
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| The
fatigue of being in the hospital
with their son for four weeks,
day and night never leaving David's
side, was growing stronger.
The fact that David had come through
the surgery well and had been
fitted for prosthetic legs in
the first nine days was what kept
Larry and Mary going. Seeing
their little boy's condition improving
and his strong determination to
make it were answered prayers.
Day by day, David was adapting
to his new limbs and soon he had
begun walking without the use
of constant support. While
in the hospital, David was tutored
by his teacher in addition to
his daily therapy. |
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| Once
home, David was hesitant
of returning to school,
fearing ridicule.
Mary was able to convince
her son that with his many
friends and supporters and
all he had been through,
returning to school would
be an easier task than what
he'd imagined. David
returned to school, his
friends, |
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his dreaded homework and
to a life he once had, with
now, a few changes.
David no longer rides his
dirt bike, but he drives
a mean four wheeler, a go-cart
and, yes, even his bicycle.
David is now thirteen years
old and in the sixth grade.
He is once again able to
enjoy hunting and fishing
with his father and, as
always, being that very
special, very determined,
little boy. |
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When
Fantasy Kids, a non-profit
organization, heard of David's
situation, we talked with
Mary, David's mom, and learned
that David had an interest
in flying in an airplane.
Quickly, we sprung into
action with a plan to make
David?s fantasy come true.
Fortunately, Fantasy Kids
had a volunteer standing
by ready to fulfill such
a request. This generous
volunteer flew to a landing
strip near David's home.
Once David and his dad arrived
at the landing strip, the
pilot familiarized the two
with the airplane. Nervousness
and apprehension were running
strong for both father and
son, as this would be a
first time adventure for
the two. Within minutes,
David's fantasy was coming
to life. Not only was David
airborne, he was piloting
the plane in which his father
was a passenger. After
the plane landed, David
was elated to have had the
experience. If a picture
is worth a thousand words,
then the look on David?s
face that day was worth
ten times that amount.
The nervousness that he
had once felt had been replaced
by joy and excitement.
David went away that day
feeling like he had done
the unthinkable. |
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| After talking with David's mom a few days later, she thanked Fantasy Kids for the adventure and the memory that David and his dad were able to share of flying together for the very first time. David called friends and family sharing his excitement for his new love, flying. The most gratifying and memorable part of fulfilling David's fantasy for Fantasy Kids was when Mary said, "I've never seen David happier." |
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