Dad of Ohio Cancer Patient, 4, Denies Disney Trip (thru Make a Wish)

iwantmypup

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yoko said:
IMO they have time to have fun frivolous time with their daughter. Give it to a family who needs one last big fun memory.
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Just FYI, they don't NOT do someone's wish because you're chosen. The kids who, well, don't have much time left, are first priority. Just because this little girl is chosen, it doesn't mean that someone else is denied. :)
 
ihartgonzo

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yoko said:
Give it to a family who needs one last big fun memory.
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But, you don't know how make a wish selects children!!! They get so many donations and so much support... don't you think they organize it so that neediest & sickest children DO come first? Obviously this little girl deserves it to them. They are the ones making the decisions for an awesome, caring organization - I'm pretty sure they didn't bypass a sicker child and take away their trip to Disneyland to give it to this 4 year-old in remission.
 
~Jessie~

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#23
Just because this little girl is in remission doesn't mean that she's completely in the clear. After battling cancer for 2 years, I say she totally deserves a very special trip to Disney.

I could understand if the dad turned it down because they can afford to (and plan!) on taking her with their own money, but let's face it... cancer treatments are EXPENSIVE and I'm sure her mother had to spend a ton of money and time to get this little girl to the point she's at now.

Make a Wish obviously feels that she is a worthy recipient for a trip to Disney. If they didn't, it would've been given to someone else.
 
Dizzy

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I haven't read it, but I know someone who had a child with leukaemia (he survived and is a teenager now). She refused any gifts and made him give away the money that was donated to him, presents etc.

She didn't want him to grow up feeling pity, or different etc etc
 
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#25
Here's another side to the story:

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A 4-year-old girl who went through two years of cancer treatments isn't being allowed to go on a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World because her father said she's in remission and the trips should go to children who are sicker than his daughter.

The young girl, McKenna May of Haskins, had the trip postponed twice while was undergoing treatment for leukemia and finally was set to go in August when the father refused to sign off on the trip, the girl's mother and grandmother said Thursday.

The family said Make-A-Wish requires signatures from both parents if either have visitation rights or is listed on the birth certificate. McKenna's parents never married or lived together. Her grandmother said the father only recently received visitation privileges.

McKenna's mother and grandmother are now collecting donations at local businesses to pay for the trip to Disney on their own. Money has poured in since their story spread beyond northwest Ohio. They haven't told McKenna why the Make-A-Wish trip was canceled.

"We've told her we're still going to Disney, just not when she thought it was happening," said her grandmother, Lori Helppie. "We don't want her judge her father."

Her father, William May of Toledo, said donations made to the organization should help those who are terminally ill.

"Spend the money on a child who this might be their last memory," May said Thursday. "Kids who are only going to live a year or six months."

The girl's grandmother said that McKenna has had a rough two years and won't be judged to be free of cancer until five years after her last treatment, which was last month.

McKenna was diagnosed with leukemia in April 2010, just before she turned two. Chemotherapy treatments affected her speech and immune system, and she had three extended stays in the hospital. She also broke her leg in a fall. Doctors told the family that it would better to wait to go to Disney until McKenna was done with treatment, Helppie said.

"She's been through quite a bit," Helppie said. "We have had quite the journey getting her back to being like every other 4-year-old."

McKenna's mother, Whitney Hughes, said she's overwhelmed that so many people have reached out to help. The family expects that they'll soon have enough money to go to Disney. It's something McKenna has talked about for months, her mom said.

"She wants to go see Mickey and the princesses," Hughes said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...wX6lWg?docId=18fb347b95cd4a7aad997f1e82805476
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She finished her final treatment last month... and won't be considered totally cancer free for 5 years. Make-A-Wish actually granted her wish a while back, but it had to be postponed because of her treatments.

So now this poor girl, who was probably hopeful for a while about her trip to Disney has finally finished treatments and is denied the ability to go :(
 
ACooper

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#26
Unless there's breaking news from the father's side of the story, I stand by my earlier agreement with Eddie. The dad sounds like an a-hole and then some.

Makes you wonder if perhaps HE (dad) had no interest in going (due maybe to being around the mother?) and the thought of mom getting a 'free vacation' irked him? Hard to believe, but I've known people who are just that selfish. I don't understand keeping your child from having a wish like this..........even if it's celebratory!

ETA: Nice that they include his full name for all his friends, nieghbors, and family :D
 
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#27
ACooper said:
Unless there's breaking news from the father's side of the story, I stand by my earlier agreement with Eddie. The dad sounds like an a-hole and then some.

Makes you wonder if perhaps HE (dad) had no interest in going (due maybe to being around the mother?) and the thought of mom getting a 'free vacation' irked him? Hard to believe, but I've known people who are just that selfish. I don't understand keeping your child from having a wish like this..........even if it's celebratory!
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My guess is that it's over custody, and the child is stuck in the middle :(
 
ACooper

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#28
~Jessie~ said:
My guess is that it's over custody, and the child is stuck in the middle :(
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Oh I'm sure that plays a big role. I don't care how much I hated an EX, my love for my child would far and away over ride that, it boggles my mind. I would truly love to hear more from dad.
 
sparks19

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#29
ACooper said:
Unless there's breaking news from the father's side of the story, I stand by my earlier agreement with Eddie. The dad sounds like an a-hole and then some.

Makes you wonder if perhaps HE (dad) had no interest in going (due maybe to being around the mother?) and the thought of mom getting a 'free vacation' irked him? Hard to believe, but I've known people who are just that selfish. I don't understand keeping your child from having a wish like this..........even if it's celebratory!

ETA: Nice that they include his full name for all his friends, nieghbors, and family :D
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This is actually exactly what I was thinking. He just doesn't want the mother to get the vacation. That's an assumption of course but that's the vibe I get. I'm sure he doesn't really have some moral outrage at a child who isn't about to die tomorrow getting a trip to Disney World.

I agree that kids shouldn't be raised with the idea that it's OK to take advantage of charity or that you deserve the charity ... HOWEVER... it's another thing completely to take this away from a child who was promised this a long time ago when he wasn't even in the picture. A child who was supposed to have already taken this trip (before he was part of her life) but due to her illness it had to be postponed until she was well enough to handle it. He is basically renegging on a promise that was already given to the girl... and THAT is a bad thing to teach kids too :)

Again.. I get that charity should not be expected. that is totally true. but people donate their hard earned money to this organization so that children can GET this charity as a wonderful surprise for the battle they've fought. Letting her take this trip doesn't automatically mean she's going to become entitled or anything like that. It's just a nice thing that a lot of hardworking people gave their money for so that children like this one could have something fun and special in their short lives that have been full of turmoil.

I REALLY get the impression that this is out of spite for the mother and not because he has a real moral outrage that a child who battled cancer but is in remission (not to be confused with cancer free) is getting a trip when she's not facing imminent death.
 
Assamiea

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#30
ACooper said:
Makes you wonder if perhaps HE (dad) had no interest in going (due maybe to being around the mother?) and the thought of mom getting a 'free vacation' irked him? Hard to believe, but I've known people who are just that selfish. I don't understand keeping your child from having a wish like this..........even if it's celebratory!
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^^This was my first thought too. Sounds like he's using the moral high road cover, when all he really wants to do is get back at the mother.

I wouldn't be surprised if the mother and grandmother raised enough money for the girl to go and this guy tried to block that trip too.
 
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#32
Honestly, after reading the article Jessie posted, it sounds like he just... doesn't want to admit his child is ill and that it very much *could* cut her life short. Still a jerk move, and not fair to the child, but I could somewhat understand not wanting to admit she's sick.

I seriously hope Disney hears about it and is able to make it as special as it would have been as she went through Make-A-Wish, just cause they get so many extras, it's above and beyond.
 
sparks19

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I think if the dad TRULY has a moral objection and isn't just being a tool he should step up and tell the little girl exactly why she can't take the trip instead of making the mom and grandma lie for him. He is morally outraged but not enough to tell the little girl the truth about it? Yeah I call BS on the moral objection
 
Tortilla

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Poor girl. :( It sounds to me like the father is being completely unreasonable. She's been through enough already, sucks that she has to be caught in the middle of her parents' fight.
 
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ACooper

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I am so glad! I was pretty confident someone at Disney would step up and help in some way :D 5 nights at the hotel free! WOOT.......and they also collected over 12k.........IN YOUR FACE DAD! LOL

I want to say one more thing on this issue. GOOD on the mom and gram for not telling the little girl she wasn't going to Disney 'cause daddy wouldn't let her. THAT shows love and concern for the little girls feelings unlike the dad seems to be doing. She'll find out eventually (how can she not in a small town after it being all over the internet as well) but for now, I am happy mom and gram are doing what they can for her feelings :)
 
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