Make–A-Wish rules let dad block daughter’s dream vacation

[believe09]

My initial reaction is that Dad is trying to control this situation....he wants to be the decisionmaker and he wants something out of this.

I suspect he has just received more than he can possibly dream-he sure looks like an *advertiser censored* from where I am sitting.

From the linked article:

McKenna's father went to very few treatments and doctor's appointments, and was just granted visitation privileges earlier this year, the grandmother said.
Helppie said she is "outraged" that McKenna's father wouldn't sign off for the Disney trip.
The father, however, blames McKenna's mother and grandmother for keeping him from seeing his daughter.
"I wasn't allowed to be involved," he said. "It ticked me off."
But May said his refusal to sign off on the trip is not related to his anger at McKenna's mother and grandmother.
"It has nothing to do with that," he said.

Are there any articles that indicate who has custody?

FWIW, my dad died of thyroid cancer. His was virulent-all cancers are not created equal and I am thrilled for those who were diagnosed and treated successfully.

 

[believe09]

My one hesitation with this story is why Mom wont go to court for a waiver of the signature. Hmm.

 

[MagnoliaMom]

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/4-year-olds-disney-wish-will-still-come-true-after-dad-refuses-permission-for-first-trip-see-how/

Enter Jamie’s Dream Team. The grassroots, volunteer-based dream-making organization based out of Pittsburgh was moved by McKenna’s predicament and came forward. Without the same legal stipulations as Make-A-Wish, Jamie‘s Dream Team believes they’ll be able to send McKenna to Florida as planned — without the family themselves having to raise money as they had begun to do.

This whole thing made me cry. God bless Jamie's Dream Team.

 

[MagnoliaMom]

http://newsradio95.com/donations-will-send-ohio-cancer-patient-to-disney/

McKenna May’s mother and grandmother say so many donations have poured in during the last few days that they’ll be able to pay for the trip themselves.

Online donations topped $11,000 on Friday.

 

[Soulmagent]

My one hesitation with this story is why Mom wont go to court for a waiver of the signature. Hmm.

As someone who has been in this position ,with a non grantable trip to disney and everything ..

I feel that maybe it could be the dad wasnt allowed go to all visits . With mom limiting visits to reduce illness (colds rsv etc..)

MAW told us both parent would have to attend the trip together with the child so I find it odd they didnt mention that to these parent ,different chapters I suppose. Next she asked for a pony. Kids cant have everything they want. Well not right away she has a horse now. Plus no cancer but I worry.

If I were dad it could be I was worried about her leaving at all traveling,being arround tons of people. Hard to just live carefree when years of your life have been about protecting your child from things you cannot see and thinking they were going to die. The doctors really drill home the they will die if you dont do this or if they get sick or etc.etc..

Mom could have been very controling thinking she was protecting her daughter from death. She also could have been very isolated and took that out on dad while not allowing him to help . All my opinion.

I want to add I have seen first hand people take advantage of people offering to help. I have seen people get rent paid and new cars all from donations and clothes and have cash jars all over town. Crazy . We only ever received a granted wish and felt that was really for her. No bills were paid for by anyone other then medicaid the last 6 months of treatment. Some people looked at it like they deserved it because there kid was sick.

 

[believe09]

Sure, or dad didnt want to go. I had a friend with a sick child (from birth) and dad didnt go to a single check up or specialists visit not a one. They were married, mind you. At the time anyway. He is content not to participate in her care...except during their custody battle with the divorce. Then he thought he could jump in...almost 6 years later.

I think that the journalist should answer the question as to who has what kind of custody and why dad can k.o. the trip. I think it would round out the story and perhaps prevent the article from being one sided. jmo.

 

[Seek&Find]

My one hesitation with this story is why Mom wont go to court for a waiver of the signature. Hmm.

Mom posted in the comments here as "Whitney" several times, including abt a third of the way down abt that.

 

[Karmady]

According to the website, make a wish doesn't just provide wishes for children that are going to die within 6 months. So I don't know where her father got this idea. And she is not "free a clear" since it takes five years to determine if she is cancer free.

just for the record, it takes 5 years for ANYONE to be declared cancer free. 5 years and clear rule. It's used to determine the necessity for ongoing CT scans and for insurance purposes, just for example. I had a very treatable form of cancer as a teenager. Once I was "clear" for 5 years, I was insurable for it as a non-pre-existing condition and also could stop follow-up medical care for that particular condition.

 

[Karmady]

I am merely providing an opinion based on a scammer mother I knew.

I have no first-hand knowledge of the situation in the news.

I guess I have a sense of right and wrong. If the child had a 99% chance of survival, I PERSONALLY would not take a free trip to Disney World, I would allow the charity to use that money to send a child who had a life-threatening illness to Orlando.

But that's just me.

Here's another example. I've had thyroid cancer. Anyone who knows about this cancer knows it is usually VERY slow growing and almost completely curable. Could I die from it? Maybe. If I didn't treat it, I might die. Even if I didn't treat it, my chances of dying within 5 years would be the same as being in a plane crash.

Would I start trying to contact charities telling people I had cancer to get free things or a trip to see my mother? No.

I did have cancer, so technically I might be able to contact a charity providing stuff for adults with cancer. To me, though--there ARE degrees of illness and doing that would be 100% wrong. Make-A-Wish doesn't just call people to offer these trips either--they are solicited by a parent.

So there you go.

You all carry on.

Me, too!! Exactly the same scenario and I feel exactly the same way about it.

 

[Seek&Find]

Help goes national as cancer survivor, 4, will get her wish

McKenna's father said he initially hesitated to sign the paperwork because he wanted the rest of her family to be able to celebrate her wish with her. "Why are they paying for grandma and grandpa to go and one sibling, and not the rest of her siblings and her father?" he asked.

Though the foundation consented to pay for Mr. May's travel as well, he later raised an issue with the trip because McKenna finished chemotherapy and is no longer a cancer patient. Mr. May said Make-A-Wish funds should be dedicated to terminally ill children.

So, he was just looking out for himself. So selfish!

But the family's donation drive rendered the dispute moot.

Ms. Hughes said she plans to donate some surplus funds to a Toledo Hospital charity and possibly set aside money for McKenna's college education.

link

What a cutie! Hope she has a great time! So glad Make A Wish, the other organization that stepped up, and all those who donated for little McKenna kept her as the focus.

 

[believe09]

Ah ha...are we finally getting to the truth? I thought he was likely looking for something out of all of this. Nice guy.

 

[michmi]

Ah ha...are we finally getting to the truth? I thought he was likely looking for something out of all of this. Nice guy.

I think ultimately "the truth" is 2 parents who each want things for themselves (attention is a thing too, you know) out of this, and MUCH less about the child.

 

[Cubby]

4-year-old cancer survivor's Disney dream has happy ending




Another nonprofit organization, Jamie's Dream Team, stepped in to organize. And Give Kids The World -- the 70-acre Kissimmee playground/resort that hosts such children and their families -- invited McKenna and her mom and grandmother for an all-expenses-paid vacation that comes with a visit to the Magic Kingdom, just as McKenna wanted.

They arrived Friday afternoon. McKenna sported a dress with princesses on it -- and a big healthy smile.

If there was a villain in the story -- a matter open to discussion -- the ending is a happy one.

"The positive side of the story," says Give Kids The World spokeswoman Colette Krahenbuhl," is that McKenna is getting her wish to visit Disney World and is going to have a perfect, magical stay at Give Kids The World."

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...or-disney_1_mckenna-disney-dream-disney-world

I'm so happy for McKenna that her wish came true! Hint to dad or the um dna contributor. If you want a good relationship with your daughter you need to put these selfish needs and thoughts about who gets to do what and who isn't paying for you too aside. Put your daughter first.

No one can screw up that relationship with her but you (no matter who you want to blame). You're not a marrionette with your daughters mother and grandmother holding the strings. You and you alone are responsible for your behavior and relationship with your daughter. Take an interest in your child's interests first, that is what a good loving parent does.

Hoping McKenna experiences all the magic of Disney!

 

[Seek&Find]

Thanks for posting, Cubby! You know, I've only been to Disney as an adult, yet I was thrilled and had so much fun. My son was over the moon! How much more joy for someone so young who needs some amazing fantasy to sweep her away from past pains?

May there be tons of giggles, wide-eyed wonder, fun, and rest!

 

[Charlie09]

Thanks for posting, Cubby! You know, I've only been to Disney as an adult, yet I was thrilled and had so much fun. My son was over the moon! How much more joy for someone so young who needs some amazing fantasy to sweep her away from past pains?

May there be tons of giggles, wide-eyed wonder, fun, and rest!

My daughter was not quite four the first time she went to Disneyland. That first visit was pure magic....I am so happy this little one got to go and experience that.