Let me tell you all a bit about Michaela. She is a bubbly 8-year old girl who was diagnosed at about a year old with Cerebral Palsy. She was born premature and is a twin. Her sister, Courtney, is considered typical, which means she suffers from no problems or abnormalities. They also have a five-year old sister named Sydney, who is also typical. Michaela is a big talker and a very happy child, despite her handicaps. She is in a motorized wheelchair, and will be for life. She attends school, and is in a special class, mostly because of her special needs. As her mother told me, "the damage is done and she'll never get any worse."

A Special Wish granted Michaela's wish to go to Florida and see Disney World. When the family found out that their wish had been granted, Tammy said that all the girls were jumping up and down and screaming in joy. She said Michaela spun her chair around and round, whooping it up in joy. Needless to say, they were all very excited. Courtney asked her mom how long and mom responded 5 days. Courtney immediately started shouting that, "we're leaving in five days", when mom meant that they would be in Florida for five days. Tammy said that there were some long faces in the house when she told them it would be a while before they actually left.

Michaela, her sisters, and her parents will be going to Florida on March 4, 2001, departing from the Dayton International Airport. While in Florida, they will be staying at "Give Kids The World", a village specially designed and built for children with special needs who have been granted a special wish. They will be catered to and pampered for five whole days, with passes to all the major parks in Florida. Perkins, the restaurant chain, runs the restaurant at the village. Breakfast and dinner are served by the Perkins Restaurant chain, and are provided free. Ice cream is served all day and hot dogs are served at lunchtime, courtesy of Friendly's. The village is a special place where, I believe, God walks "in the cool of the day", as it says in Genesis 3:8.

This is a very special young lady and a very special wish. We have partnered ourselves with A Special Wish to grant Michaela a chance to go to Florida and see the wonders that God has created. For five very brief days, Michaela will just be a child, and not a patient. Her family will be able to join in with her and just be a family, not a family dealing with the problems that come with Cerebral Palsy. They will be able to build memories that will last them a lifetime.

You can be a part of this, and share in the joy of the Christmas season, by considering a gift. As we celebrate the birth of our Lord, we can help a child, and there is no higher calling than that. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them" in John 19:14. By making a donation, you can help us help Michaela spend a week in March in Florida.

Jesus said:
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.     John 13:35 KJV

Show forth His love this Christmas season
and all through the year!