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A Wish Presentation party was held Sunday at Chuck E. Cheese's in Santa Maria for Fernando Rodriguez, 5, of Lompoc. Fernando and his parents were presented with an all-expense paid trip to Disneyland courtesy of the Sometimes dreams do come true, ...
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Sometimes dreams do come true, and for 5-year-old Lompoc resident Fernando Melgoza Rodriguez and his family, that time has come. On Sunday, Fernando and his parents were presented with an all-expense paid trip to Disneyland courtesy of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Tri-Counties.
Fernando was 4 years old when diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of cancer. A physician at Community Health Center (CHC) in Lompoc diagnosed him and referred him to a specialist in Santa Barbara where he also received chemotherapy until July 2010.
“He didn’t understand the sickness, he would get upset,” said his mother, Maribel Rodriguez, adding that her son is now cancer free and feeling fine. According to his mother he is not taking any medications, and has no other restrictions right now. He returns to the doctor periodically for check-ups.
A nonprofit organization, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children up to 18 years old who are suffering from life threatening diseases.
The goal of the organization, according to Make-A-Wish Community Representative and Wish Granter Janee Manriquez, is “to enhance the quality of life.”
The Wish Presentation party was held at Chuck E. Cheese’s in Santa Maria at Fernando’s request, but his main wish is to meet his favorite Toy Story characters at Disneyland.
Dr. Daniel Greenfield, the pediatric oncologist who treated the Rodriguez’ youngest son, made the referral to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Greenfield has been referring his patients to Make-A-Wish for 16 years.
“I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t support it,” he said of the 31-year-old charitable organization. Greenfield added that he also has friends who have been helped by the organization.
Greenfield noted that patients in Fernando’s category are 90 percent curable, but the parents of his patients are often plagued with worry that their child will be a part of the 10 percent who are not cured. According to Greenfield, even after treatment has ended successfully, as it has with Fernando, some parents still worry the cancer will return.
Although Make-A-Wish has certain criteria that must be met before a wish is granted, such as age and diagnosis, Greenfield said nearly all of his patients qualify and are given their wishes.
Wish Granters Robert Bronte and Hilda Trigueros were on hand Sunday to ignite the excitement. Bronte had the special duty of officially presenting the family with the details of the trip which will include a surprise limousine ride to the park.
“We’re really grateful,” said Bronte about the free pizza party. Bronte, who lives in San Luis Obispo, has served as a Wish Granter for five years and said more help is needed. “We always need volunteers and people to sponsor wishes,” he said.
Fernando’s wish is the first of four sponsored by the Santa Maria Valley Physical Therapy Group, Inc. and Cleaner Cans, an industrial cleaning company that sanitizes curbside trash receptacles. In May the two companies joined for their 1st annual Golf for Wishes Tournament and Auction which raised over $20,000 for their cause.
Planning for next year’s event has already begun. The date is set for May 18, 2012, and the sponsors plan to adopt more wishes for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In all the commotion and scuttling of children and boxes and such Fernando’s dad Umberto Rodriguez could be found quietly gazing upon his son while his wife accepted well wishes from everyone.
Of their upcoming first ever family vacation Maribel Rodriguez smiles and says they are all “Very, very happy, we see there are still good people out there.”