Sunshine Foundation

“When our son Dylan, with Chiari malformation and other chronic illnesses, was at his sickest, he asked to go to Disney World. Since we could never afford the trip on our own, we contacted several wish granting organizations. They said chronic illness never qualifies for a wish. Then we discovered Sunshine Foundation. We were thrilled he was approved. But soon after, we were told our son needed brain surgery. We started our countdown to Disney soon after he came home from the hospital. As it got closer, we got more excited, and it was the first time in a long time that our son was excited about anything. The best thing about that trip were the smiles it created, real smiles of pure joy. They are smiles my family would had never had without Sunshine. And I honestly couldn’t remember the last time our son smiled as much as he did on that trip. Our life is constant doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and tests. Our other children miss school, birthday parties, events, to be with their brother. Chronic illness in children affects the whole family. The Sunshine Foundation is the only wish granting organization that acknowledges this. I think of the Sunshine Foundation as family.” —Dylan’s mom, Dana