Make-A-Wish: Day 1 Pictures

Today we started our journey for Tucker's Make-A-Wish trip to Disneyland. 

We left Dallas at noon and arrived in Los Angeles at 1:00 pacific time. We picked up our rental car, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and made our way to Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. We were met by our Wish Coordinator and she took care of everything for us. 

After getting everything settled in out room, we headed for the coast to let the boys get their first glimpse of the ocean. After playing in the sand for a bit, we met one of my fraternity brothers and his family for dinner on the Balboa Pier. 

It was a very long day and the boys were asleep before leaving the beach. 

Now for some pictures. We will update in more detail after we get home. 

Send-Off Party

Today we had Tucker's official send-off party for his Wish trip. Out amazing Wish Granter really outdid herself. Tucker got a full, birthday-style party at Chuck E. Cheese, complete with cake, games, prizes, and a round in the ticket blaster. 

The manager of CEC gave Tucker some special prizes and more game tokens than he and his friends could possibly use. It was a very special day and we are so blessed to have the family and friends that were there to support Tucker. 

A Wish Come True!

Tucker's official Make-A-Wish packet

A big thank you to everyone who posted/shared/commented on social media sites, dressed up, raised funds, gave us hugs and high-fives, and all other forms of encouragement we received during CHD Awareness Week! It was incredibly humbling to see our Facebook news feeds FILLED with red on February 7th. Start planning for next year -- we'll wear the true colors of CHD awareness: red AND blue!!!

As many of you remember, at the Amazing Little Hearts Halloween party back in October, Tucker learned that he would be getting his Make A Wish dream: To meet Lightning McQueen! Well...the time has come! In just three days, the four of us will be boarding a plane to Disneyland, and Tucker will get his wish!

This day seemed so far away back in October, but now that it's here, the emotions are overwhelming. My baby, who has endured more struggles than most people will ever know, gets to "be a kid" and enjoy what life has to offer. No hospital beds, IVs, heart monitors, blood pressure cuffs, chest tubes, PICC lines, steri-strips, bandages, etc. He gets to do what all kids want to do -- be normal. Oh, I know he'll get nasty looks when we get special privileges or people will see our blue Make A Wish shirts and wonder "what's wrong with him," but none of it matters. As far as he knows, he's the center of the world for a whole week. And Trent and I will do and buy whatever he wants because he deserves it.

Tucker at his school send-off party today

Our bags are packed. The house is (mostly) clean. All of our affairs are in order. For one week, we get to be a family. For one week, we can forget about all the hard times. For one week, we get to make memories we'll never forget. Get ready for lots of posts in the next week -- we'll be sharing plenty of photos and stories!

We ask for your prayers for safe traveling. We also ask you to pray for the boys to have patience. We want them to have the best experience, but we don't want either of them to be so tired and frustrated that they can't enjoy it. Please pray that Trent and I stay focused on what's truly important and that we can be kids again too. Most of all, pray that we come home with no regrets, knowing that Tucker got everything he wished for.

Love and Mickey Mouse hugs,
Trent, Dena, Tucker, and Finn