Small children to large corporations were moved to donate more than $23,000 to help a
local 4-year-old cancer survivor get to Disney World last month. That generosity
allowed the girl’s family to also help make dreams come true for two other
children.
In July, a Haskins family shared the story of McKenna May, who battled leukemia for
two years, and was granted a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney. However, McKenna’s
father, William May of Toledo, who had just been granted visitation earlier this
year, refused to sign paperwork authorizing the trip. Make-A-Wish requires both
parents to sign off on wishes.
May said Make-A-Wish should only grant the wishes of children who are dying – and his
daughter had her final treatment in June.
In an effort to get McKenna to Disney somehow, her mother and grandmother put out
collection jars at local businesses. Money was coming in slowly, until McKenna’s
story went viral.
In addition to giving money, several people also shared stories about why they were
motivated to give, or how they raised money for McKenna. The family’s email
account was flooded with 500 messages a day after the story broke.
"I answered and replied to everyone of them," said Lori Helppie, McKenna’s
grandmother. She was particularly touched by the story of two young boys in
Idaho who sold popsicles to raise money for the McKenna’s trip.
"That touched me that those two little boys would do that for another
child," Helppie said.
In order to make sure McKenna had accommodations specifically for children with
compromised immune systems, the family worked with a group called Jamie’s Dream
Team, from White Oak, Pa. The group made provisions for McKenna to use specially
filtered swimming pools, get front-of-the-line privileges for rides, and have
special visits by Disney costumed characters.
"She met Mickey. She met Minnie. She danced with Cinderella," Helppie said.
"She was able to have an experience we couldn’t have afforded
otherwise."
McKenna was treated to all types of pampering, including the "Bibbidi Bobbidi
Boutique."
"She actually came out looking like Cinderella. She was ear to ear smiles,"
her grandmother said.
Helppie said the family has heard some criticism about them spending so much on the
Disney trip. But she defended the decision to spoil McKenna.
"We made it a point to make sure the trip was for her. Anything she wanted, she
got," Helppie said.
"I’ve never seen this child happier in my life," Helppie said.
While in Florida, the family also took McKenna to Orlando Beach, where the 4-year-old
got her first taste of salt water and sand.
And in an effort to bring a bit of Florida back to Ohio, the family decided to adopt
"Operation Bring Disney Home."
McKenna’s bedroom now has a Tinkerbell theme, has a castle mural on the wall, Prince
Charming rug on the floor, and Disney pictures everywhere.
"We brought Disney home for her," Helppie said. "So she would never
forget her experience."
And McKenna is dressing a bit differently now as she starts preschool at Otsego.
"She will only wear Disney," her grandma said.
Once McKenna’s Disney dream was realized, the family looked to see if other children
needed dreams answered. They gave Jamie’s Dream Team $9,000 of the donated funds
to help two children. One terminally ill child was given a trip to an amusement
park, and another child was granted a bedroom makeover.
"It was not a hard decision," Helppie said of the idea to give away some of
the money. "You go through the struggles with a terminal illness, and you
just want to make them smile for that one day."
That’s the same spirit that motivates Jamie Holmes, of Jamie’s Dream Team in
Pennsylvania. Holmes was diagnosed with a chronic illness as a child.
"Everyday I wake up knowing I’m sick," said Holmes, who is now 25. But she
pulls herself out of bed knowing that other children are counting on her.
"There are people who need my help."
Holmes first reached out to McKenna’s family after hearing about her story. She was
impressed when the family wanted to give some donated money to the organization
to help other children.
"It was unbelievable," Holmes said. "These children have suffered so
much. My heart feels for these families."