Local boy visits Disney World as part of Make-A-Wish
Thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, twelve-year-old Kenny Fisher and his family were able to relax and try to forget about his serious health problems for a week. Courtesy of the foundation, the family recently spent a week at the world-famous Disney World resort in Orlando, Fla.
“They said that it’s to take your mind off your problems,” said Kenny’s mother, Diana Fisher, “Before I left I thought, ‘nothing can take my mind off of this,’ but once I got down there it really did. It really does take your mind off of your problems.’
Diana said Kenny has Melas Syndrome a form of mitochondrial disease. He is subject to seizures and strokes, and he takes 28 and one-half pills per day. He started getting seizures last June and was taken to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh. He is currently undergoing research treatment at Columbia University in New York City.
Kenny has had learning problems since birth, but did not start having medical problems until last year. He didn’t learn to walk until he was 16 months old, and is now in school at a kindergarten or first-grade level.
In addition to his mother, Kenny made the trip to Disney World with his father, Ralph Fisher Sr., and his brothers David, age 14; Ralph Jr., age 12; and Clayton, 7.
The family was contacted in March by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but Diana said she wanted them to wait until school was out before they went on the trip.
Diana said her family was treated like VIP’s on their trip. She said a limousine arrived to pick them up and take them to the airport. They were shuttled to the front of lines for attractions and rides in Florida and allowed to meet characters at the various parks. Since Kenny cannot be out in the heat for too long, this allowed them to see more rides than they otherwise would have been able to, said Diana.
She noted on the plane to Florida, the pilot announced Kenny’s name over the speaker and let the family see the cockpit. The family was even bumped up to first class on the flight to Florida, she said.
“It was just wonderful the way they treated him down there,” said Diana.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation fulfills the wishes of children, under the age of 18, with life threatening illnesses. Kenny’s wish was to meet Mickey Mouse in Florida.
“Kenny was very excited about going,” said Diana Fisher, noting his second wish would have been to meet NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon.
Diana said she enjoyed watching Kenny and the other boys have a good time, and that was enough of a vacation for her.
“Make-A-Wish is wonderful,” said Diana Fisher. “They are wonderful people.”
Everything for the trip was taken care of for them, said Diana. They didn’t have to worry about or deal with any of the details of the trip. They were told that they could have free tickets for any attraction in the area that they wanted to see.
During their visit to Florida, the Fisher family stayed at Give Kids the World (GKTW), a cost-free resort in Central Florida for children with life-threatening illnesses.
The resort had an ice cream parlor open all day, said Ralph Sr. The family was also given a brand new van to use while they were there, said Diana, noting the resort had various activities at the “village” where her family stayed.
There was a video arcade, pools, remote-controlled boats and other attractions at GKTW. The rooms were designed to accommodate children with disabilities, said Diana Most who work at GKTW are volunteers, said Ralph Sr.
Diana said the family spent most of their time in the parks including Disney World, Epcot, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and MGM.
“Kenny went on all the big rides,” said David. Diana Fisher said Kenny especially liked meeting the characters such as Cat in the Hat, Goofy, Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Scooby Doo, Shaggy, Chip, Dale and Pinocchio. Kenny was given free pictures taken at the parks.
“It took a while for it to sink in that they were really there,” said Ralph Sr. “We didn’t rush, everything just went so smoothly. Every day there were four things for all four kids.’
Diana said Kenny’s favorite ride was Spiderman, while David and Ralph Jr. liked the Hulk, and Clayton really enjoyed Space Mountain.
“We were gone from morning until night,” said Diana Fisher.
“The people were all great,” said Ralph Sr. “He (Kenny) really liked a lot of it. He enjoyed his trip.”
He’s in the 6th grade at Cox Donahey Elementary School where he is in the life skills class, taught by Geraldine Saxe, where he’s learning various things like how to make a taco salad. Before last year, she said he took special education classes.
“He really likes her,” said Diana Fisher, “He’s had her as a teacher for years.”
“Since kindergarten,” said Kenny.
“She really thinks a lot of him. She’s so good to him,” said Diana.
His teachers say that he is very mannerly and doesn’t cause problems, according to Diana.
While at home, Kenny likes to watch the cartoon Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon, and he likes to go to the drive in, especially to see cartoon movies, said Diana.
Kenny likes to go swimming and biking. He can’t ride a bike himself, so Diana pulls him along with her bike while he rides a “Tag-Along Bike.” Kenny gets short of breath easily, and has allergies. He also can’t be out much when it’s too hot or cold, and he can’t over exert himself, so he can’t play outside too much.
Kenny has responsibilities around the house, said Diana, like drying dishes and cleaning his room. He also plays Nintendo and PlayStation 2, and is pretty good at it, she said.
“The other boys are very protective of him,” said Diana. She said that Kenny likes to cheer for his brother at football games, and he likes to watch NASCAR with the other boys.
Kenny goes to church and Sunday school at Hiller Free Methodist with his family.
Kenny has homeroom, music class, gym and parties with the other kids in his grade who are not in the living skills class.
She said the other kids at his school treat him well, and the teachers treat him well too.
“They don’t single him out, but they don’t ignore him either,” she said.