Remember last March when my little brother, Asa, (the one with Muscular Dystrophy) was able to go up to Make A Wish and submit his wish to the Wishing Wizard for a shopping spree? Well, the following month that wish was granted and it was a totally amazing experience.
The day before his big wish granting party, Smith's Grocery Store invited my family to come to their Provo location near Freedom Blvd. It was International Wish Day, and also happened to be Asa's birthday. Smith's selected Asa to help honor International Wish Day by buying him one of the items on his wish list. We were all totally shocked to see what that item was... an iTouch! Check out the link below to see the article The Daily Herald did for it. If nothing else, you need to see the picture. It is priceless. Asa was so thrilled! And it was an even bigger blessing for us because that meant that there was more of his wish money that could be used on other things.
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/orem/orem-boy-gets-birthday-wish/article_b9cb8601-6eab-5614-a636-8d4250872e27.html
Smith's provided Asa with two cakes - one that was BYU football themed, and one that was Harry Potter Themed. They also gave him a few other gifts. It was amazing. Probably the best birthday celebration he has ever had. :)
The next day the family went on the shopping spree. He was given a few hours and a set amount of money. Thankfully the family had already done their research on where to go and what to get at what location, so things went smoothly. With the money he was given for his wish, he was able to get a laptop, voice recognition software, and a large flat screen TV. It was incredible!
After the shopping spree, we all drove up to Make A Wish for the big celebration and star raising. Asa invited about 100 family and friends to come enjoy cake and ice cream and share the special occasion.
Here is my mom talking about the Smith's and shopping experience with our two amazing wish granters in the background.
Asa got up and talked about the experience as well. It was pretty neat.
Each Make A Wish child is given a page or two in this scrapbook where family and friends can write a little note. It also describes where their special star will be on the ceiling in case anyone ever comes back. I don't know how many people get the opportunity to return after attending something like this. But it is very touching to know that even though our loved one may no longer be with us, that we can go back and remember.
The star raising. I dare you not to cry during that!
Asa's is the blue one - visible in the lower right hand corner of the above picture, and much more visible in the picture below.
Our family. It was such an amazing experience. I think the thing I was most surprised by, is that it was such a celebration. It was a party! I think I expected something more somber - but this was perfect. The star raising was very, very special. It is something that still brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. But it was so good to just celebrate the amazing life that we have had with him, and the years that we will have with him in the future. He is such a good boy. It is impossible to imagine life without him. It has been difficult, there is no denying that. But I don't think any of us would change it for the world.
Wow! What an incredible day for your sweet brother and for all of you.
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