“Courage doesn’t mean you don’t get afraid. Courage means you don’t let fear stop you.”
(Bethany Hamilton[1])
Our goal here at Happy Living is to raise $6,000 for Make-A-Wish this year: enough to grant the wish of one child with life-threatening medical conditions. To do it, we need your help. Each month during 2017, we will be presenting an inspiring video and sharing the story of a ‘Wish Kid,’ in hopes that you’ll feel called to watch, share and give.
Today’s video features ten-year-old Kai. He began life as a typical, rough and tumble little boy, until one day in kindergarten, when he just tipped over while standing in line, hitting his head on a cement wall. The doctor’s visit that followed was the beginning of a four-year medical nightmare: continuous testing, medicating, and progressive degeneration of Kai’s balance and muscle control. For four years, no one could determine the cause of Kai’s symptoms.
Finally, his doctor discovered that Kai had an incurable disease called Ataxia, Oculomotor Apraxia Type 2. If you’ve never heard of this before, you’re not alone. Kai’s doctor explained to the family that medical science knows next to nothing about this rare disease or how to treat it. His doctor went on to say that within two to four years, Kai would be unable to move on his own. Immobile.
Even as he was increasingly having trouble with his balance on land because his muscles were wiggly and wouldn’t do what his brain told them to do, Kai’s wish was to go surfing in Hawaii. He wanted to see where his dad grew up, to visit Pearl Harbor, and to try to surf.
To the total surprise of Kai and his parents, and with the help of Make-a-Wish, Kai’s dream came true, and his parents were there to witness him standing on a surfboard. Riding the waves.
His mom says lovingly, “The grin on his face was just priceless.”
With incredible courage and determination, Kai and his family have made something beautiful from their struggle and heartbreak. They’ve found a way to relish in the journey; no matter what obstacles life puts in their way. Help Kai spread the love by supporting the Make-a-Wish Foundation and helping bring wishes to life for other Wish Kids.
It’s my wish that you’ll… WATCH | SHARE | GIVE
- Watch Kai’s video
- Share this post throughout all your social networks
- Give what you can to our fundraiser
Pay it forward.[2] Please give what you can, when you can. As you know, every little bit helps give Wish Kids like Kai the courage to fight on.
With love and gratitude,
[1] Live Like Nothing is Missing
[2] Pay it forward is an expression for describing the beneficiary of a good deed repaying it to others instead of to the original benefactor.
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