John Elrod Gabaya’s wish was to go to Disneyworld in Florida. Hardly unusual and not too difficult to fulfill, except for one thing: John was suffering from leukemia.
In December 2001, Make-A-Wish Foundation Philippines (mawf) along with philstar.com, Teen Philippines, The Philippine STAR, RFM Corporation, Selecta, Little Caesars and Bidshot.com granted the wishes of four children with life-threatening illnesses. Ten-year-old John was among them. Two other children, Cheradie Fortes and Mary Rose Duma, were also given the chance to fulfill their wishes. Mary Rose got to see her idol Jessa Zaragosa in person and Cheradie was able to visit her grandmother in Samar. Sadly, one wish child, Christine Joy Fungo, did not live long enough; she succumbed to brain abcess at the tender age of four.
John, his parents Lito and Rhodalyn and his younger sister Lara, flew to the U.S. last December 12, 2001, staying with relatives while waiting for his "appointment" with Mickey Mouse. Make-A-Wish International Director Eduardo Santos said John’s wish was supposed have been granted on December 20, 2001 but was postponed to January 2002. Their meeting was moved four more times between the months of March and May 2002 because of John’s medical condition as well as airline restrictions. What’s more, the hotel resort that John and his family were to be billeted in–Give Kids the World, a village in Central Florida that has become a haven for families of children with life-threatening illnesses–was fully booked at the time. Finally, in July of this year, John met Mickey–and many, many more of his friends at Disneyworld.
Rhodalyn says her son had the time of his life in Florida. He was able to ride in a stretch limousine and go around Disneyworld. The Gabayas’ good fortune did not stop there. Santos said the family was approached by relatives and some members of the Filipino community with offers of assistance to help the Gabayas seek the best medical treatment for John. After a thorough qualification procedure, John was admitted as a charity care patient at the Robert Woods Johnson Hospital in New Jersey. All expenses related to his medical condition are taken care of by the institution.
This development prompted the family to lengthen its stay in the US. The petition for a visa extension was granted by the consul in New York as it came with the endorsement of the Robert Woods Johnson Hospital. Doctors continue to monitor his progress and Rhodalyn is happy to report that his leukemia is in remission.
"I’m thankful to everybody who helped my son," she says.
They are presently living with relatives in New Jersey and plan to stay there until John’s treatment is over. Life has never been better for John and his family who rely on the love and support of their loved ones and the kindness of strangers. However, Rhodalyn says they do intend to come back to the Philippines because there is no place like home.
"Iba pa rin kapag nasa sarili kang bayan," she says.
She admits, though, that John is enjoying himself in the US. "Lalo na kasi walang pollution at saka malinis ang paligid," she continues. The Gabaya children continue their studies in the US with John beginning third grade this month. Lara is in second grade.
Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 in the United States after seven-year-old Christopher Grecius fulfilled his dream of becoming a police officer. The inspi-ring story of how highway patrolmen from Arizona helped make his wish come true soon spread. mawf now has affiliates in 24 countries, including the Philippines. Of the more than 100,000 wishes granted by the foundation, the most popular wishes are to go on a special trip, to have a computer or playstation or meet a popular celebrity. A child’s simple wish paved the way for other dreams to come true.
On October 2, 2002, the Make-A-Wish Foundation Philippines will send 15-year-old Noel Macaraeg to the Vatican to fulfill his wish to witness the canoni-zation of Blessed Jose Maria Escriva.
mawf and its partners not only gave John a ticket to see Mickey Mouse. He was also given a second chance at life. The journey continues for him and may the road be long and filled with exciting adventures.