I can't even put into words how much this trip meant to us and how good it was for our family. Without the many donations, volunteers and people involved with Make-A-Wish our trip of a lifetime would not be possible. All the kind/generous people that helps us plan this trip and over the top amazing.
Cooper's mom
We found out Cooper had a heart condition and needed a transplant at age 1. While waiting for a new heart Cooper suffered a bradycardia arrest in the cath lab and as a result of that he had an anoxic brain injury. He lost vision, mobility and ability to swallow, seizures, along with multiple other things. He has had many complications over the years due to his stroke. At age 4 he had many serious complications after a tonsillectomy resulting him on ECMO life support and hospitalized for 3 months.
Cooper is doing well today and has been the most stable since age 1. We have known about Make-A-Wish for a long time through the Jolly Holly lights event. We then had another kid in our school that was granted a wish to Give Kids the World Village and it started us thinking that maybe someone Cooper could go there. Finding out Cooper was eligible for a wish was a feeling of excitement and humbling.
Cooper and our family have been through so many ups and downs, in and out of hospital and clinics over the past 8 years to then finally having a point in his life where we felt we could actually take him somewhere without worrying about his health suffering or even being able to take him somewhere that was all accommodating to him. We had never traveled more than a few hours away with him due to equipment needed and could he even do anything where we were going. Would his siblings have to sacrifice things because he can't be included? It was all just so exciting I can't even put it all in to words. Cooper thrives on spending time with those that he knows and loves. So to be able to spend this time with his family was very special.
Cooper and our family chose to go to Give Kids the World and parks. GKTW was such an amazing experience and had absolutely everything we needed. We had heard about this place from another wish family that lives in our school district. We did a lot of reading and researching about all the places we would go while there and from there knew what all we needed for equipment and supplies. What Cooper could do and couldn't. We asked the other wish family about the flights and how they handled meds, food, ect for travel. Our favorite part of the trip was being able to spend time together and not have to worry about anything. Having all arrangements made for us and not having to worry about this and that was relaxing. Going on all the rides and having all access to parks was great and made us feel like royalty.
The year leading up to Cooper's wish has been the most stable he has been since we first found out he was sick. He hadn't had any unexpected hospitalizations and wasn't having the vomiting and aspiration issues he was having making travel so much more obtainable. Going on this trip showed us the ins and outs of traveling with Cooper and what to expect.
