Two local youth were recently granted wishes to go to Disney World in Florida by the Make-A-Wish® America foundation. The foundation’s goal is to grant the wish of every child diagnosed with a critical illness. Research shows that wishes have proven to provide physical and emotional benefits that can give a child better health outcomes and increase their chances for survival. Pictured above is Channing Willis (holding Mickey Mouse), son of Alexis Willis and Caitlyn O’Riley of Tarkio, Missouri, who is battling Vanishing White Matter Leukodystrophy disease, and the group of family and friends who attended a celebration of his wish being granted. He will go to Disney World in a few weeks.
Pictured above is the Clodfelter family of Rock Port, Missouri, including Maya Clodfelter, daughter of Julie and Charlie Clodfelter and sister to Sadie and Aleyda, enjoying their recent Make-A-Wish® trip to Disney World. (Submitted photos)
Two local youth were recently granted wishes to go to Disney World in Florida by the Make-A-Wish® America foundation. The foundation’s goal is to grant the wish of every child diagnosed with a critical illness. Research shows that wishes have proven to provide physical and emotional benefits that can give a child better health outcomes and increase their chances for survival.
Maya Clodfelter of Rock Port, Missouri, a brave 12-year-old who was born with a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and Autism, was granted a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World this August. Born with a congenital heart defect and secondary pulmonary hypertension, Maya’s early years were marked by numerous medical challenges which included open heart surgery at eight months old, as well as a two week hospitalization in the ICU for RSV when she was just 17 months old. Maya came extremely close to death during this time, but was able to find the strength to fight through. Some of her other health issues include moderate sleep apnea, asthma and mitral valve regurgitation. She will soon need another surgery to replace a valve in her heart. Maya has loved Disney movies since she was just a baby. She has always enjoyed listening, singing and dancing to many Disney songs. The gift of a trip to Disney World with her parents and two younger sisters became a dream come true for Maya! Her eyes were filled with wonder and excitement as she got to meet several Disney princesses, go to the front of all the ride lines and sing along to her favorite songs as she explored all the Disney World and Universal Studio parks. Maya was treated like a princess the entire trip thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Channing Willis, son of Alexis Willis and Caitlyn O’Riley of Tarkio, Missouri, is battling Vanishing White Matter Leukodystrophy disease. He was granted his wish Sunday, August 13, 2023, and will go to Disney World in a few weeks. Vanishing White Matter is a progressive disorder that mainly affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). This disorder causes deterioration of the central nervous system’s white matter, which consists of nerve fibers covered by myelin. There is no cure for this. Channing was diagnosed in April of 2023. He has started his continuous care through Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with Doctor Laura Adang. Currently, his family is waiting to find out if he will be accepted into the medical trial in Amsterdam with Dr. Marjo van der Knaap. Channing loves being outside and spending time with his family. He has a huge love for anything superhero and of course, Mickey Mouse, so to say he is overly excited to go visit Disney is an understatement.
