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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, his dreaded |
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| 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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