David McAlonan, age 8
David is an 8 year old boy who functions at a five year old level due
to a variety of neurological disorders which he suffers including Dandy
Walker Syndrome, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, Tourettes Syndrome, ADHD,
Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome. David has a 6 month old sister
whose has Cerebral Palsy and a brother who is asthmatic.
David's involvement in social activities is often limited. According
to his mother, it is rare that he is happy or smiling. She
reports that he became fascinated with Dinosaurs after visits to the Academy
Of Natural Sciences, and that he is the happiest when studying fossils.
David's greatest wish is to work along with Paleontologists in the
discovery of Dinosaur bones and other fossils. He wants to
go out West and be involved in a "dig" for a few weeks. The
combined costs associated with the medical treatment for David and
his siblings makes it impossible for his mom and dad to fulfill his
wish. Family and physicians concur that the granting of David's wish
would do a great deal for his self-esteem. Fullfilment
of this wish is still pending.
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Gregory Cesar, age 18
Gregory has suffered from a rare hereditary disorder called Charcot
Marie Tooth Disease, since age 3. This disease destroys the muscles
of the calves, hands and feet due to peripheral nerve deterioration.
Gregory lost significant use of his hands and legs, and spends a great
deal of time in the hospital each year where he undergoes treatment and
therapy. When not in the hospital he lives in a shelter with his
mother who is very ill.
Notwithstanding his medical problems, Gregory Cesar has a bright outlook
about his future. He is a brilliant 18 year old boy who enjoys attending
school, and composing, playing and listening to classical music.
He has composed numerous classical pieces, which he can play on an electronic
keyboard using parts of both hands. Gregory's wishes were few.
First, to further his education at a music school. Second,
to have the help of a composer to arrange his music so that one day it
could be performed by a symphony orchestra. Thirdly, he wished for an AM/FM
stereo walkman so that he could enjoy music wherever he traveled.
SMF secured the stereo walkman for Greg and is
working on his long range wishes. |
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Adam McMaster, age 8
Adam is 8 years old, and is autistic. Adam's brother, Forrest
is a 6 year old boy who functions at a younger level due to a veriety of
neurological disorders which he suffers including mental retardation, ADHD,
reflux, pseudo-obstruction disorder and sensory neuropathy. Adam's parents
are divorced, and his mother is burdened by numerous financial hardships,
lives on SSI, and is trying her best to change her current status.
She has enrolled as a college student, in an effort to build a better
future for herself and the children. Adam wished for a bicycle for
Christmas, with training wheels. This wish
was fulfilled, and Adam got his new bike. |
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Rosemary Ellis, age 44
Rosemary, is a 44 year old amputee who expressed a desire to help others
deal with their physical challenges in a positive way. She wished
for a computer to enable her to develop a series of informational pamphlets
to illustrate to physically challenged people things they could do to enhance
their lives, and places they could visit that cater to their special needs.
She indicated that the computer would also enable her to manage the recordkeeping
and letter writing involved in her ambitious project. "Rosie" also
wanted to do this to be creative and build her self-esteem. This
wish was fulfilled, and Rosemary now has her computer. |
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