Category: 2017

Don Schaeffer received our 100th wish grant, to go to Branson, MO to have family time at the Meadows landing.

Ruben was surprised with a diagnosis of stage 4 SCC head and neck cancer and was told by his doctor that he would not be able to work during his treatment and healing. Ruben wanted to do something fun for his two teenagers for their birthdays.

Ruben Eissen’s original wish was granted to take his family to a Wisconsin Dells water park but they have changed their plans to go to the Chicago Christmas parade with family.

      

Nora Swan was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer in June 2017 and it is spreading quickly. She also has very limited vision, but does not let that stop her! She loves to help people and to be around people so she went back to work 2 years ago as a “sample lady” at the local Meijer. She knows all of her customers personally, many of them just come in to chat.

Nora has 3 children, 8 grandchildren, and 4 (soon to be 5) great grandchildren. She is very loved and very needed in their lives. They are proud of her strength and her courage.

The family is planning a vacation to see Nora’s grandson, a lieutenant in the US Army at Ft Steward, in Savannah GA. Nora’s wish has been granted to join them for this trip to see Tyler and his family. Jenny, Tyler’s wife, is pregnant with Nora’s 5th great grandchild. Nora won’t fly so they are going to drive the 14 hours, hopefully stopping often so she can visit some places she has never been to.

They will do some family type outings including Universal Studios on the Saturday since we are close by. Nora has spent her life making sure that her family is happy, safe, and secure. Her family is excited to take her on this trip with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and seeing the joy in the kids’ faces as they come off of rides. They will also have dinner with 16 family members at the Hard Rock Café.

Marcia Spino’s wish was granted to travel to the Toby Keith concert in Georgia.

Approximately 2 years ago, Marcia was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. After rigorous treatments and a successful surgery, the family believed in the miracle that she had won her fight against cancer. In the beginning of June 2017, what started as a cough turned out to be stage 4 Lung Cancer.

Living less than 30 miles away from Myrtle Beach, Marcia was beyond excited to recently hear the announcement that her favorite country singer of all time, Toby Keith, would be one of the headliners for the annual Carolina Country Music Festival. Her love for Toby Keith started over 20 years ago but had become more meaningful when her only son enlisted in the Army shortly after the September 11th attacks. The day he was leaving for boot camp she heard, “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue”. Throughout her son’s training and 6 deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, Toby Keith’s music kept her heart and mind occupied until her son returned home. Not only did he provide her comfort but his allegiance to his country was admirable and made her love for him grow.

Words cannot begin to express the gratitude Marcia, her son Rob, and I have for granting Marcia’s wish to see Toby Keith in concert last night. Here are a few pictures of our time. Thank you again for making her wish come true! 

Eric Moritz has been surprised with wish granted for a visit Colonial Williamsburg and take a Richmond historic trolley tour. Eric was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer in 2015 and has gone through extension radiation, chemo treatments and surgery.

Eric is a history buff with special interest in the Civil War. He and his wife never had a honeymoon so this will be a very special vacation for them. The Moritz’s have 2 children and 2 grandsons.

Lisa Marie Schnaath’s wish was granted to take her dream vacation to Disney World with family and friends before beginning a new regimen of chemo.

“Lisa has the most beautiful smile and disposition and lights up a room when she walks in. She always manages to see the good in every situation and always seeks to find a silver lining. She has a loving husband, Nathan, and is the mother of Chloe and Chace… I would love for her to have the opportunity to kick back, relax and make beautiful memories to last a lifetime with her family in Florida. Her whole life she has given to others, and now it’s time for others to come together to bless her.” – Lisa’s cousin

 

Alena Story Edwards, age 23, wished to go to a water park. Stella’s Wish Foundation is sending Alena and her family to Great Wolf Lodge in Ohio for two days.

Troy and wife Lori will travel with their two kids to Glacier Canyon Lodge in Wisconsin for four nights to enjoy time with their family.

She will be going to a New York Jets football game with friends and family and she will have on-field passes.

       

Maria and her husband will travel to the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, an historically anbd architecturally significant hotel on Miami Beach, for three days.