Trip of a Lifetime
Benton child receives Disney getaway as wish come true
Like most little girls, Allie Kay Moore loves princesses. Earlier this month, she had the opportunity to meet some of her favorites in real life.
Through a donation from Everett Buick GMC, Allie had a Make-awish granted to visit Walt Disney World.
Allie’s mother, Ashley, called the trip “exactly what we needed.”
The family, compromised of Allie’s twin, Beckett Moore, sister, Chloe Mcvay, and parents Ashley and Benjamin, had so many things to do and could be carefree, she said. While on the trip, 6-year-old Allie enjoying meeting princesses, swimming and riding countless rides.
Allie has a Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrcytoma, a rare brain tumor.
“The exact cause of Anaplastic Astrocytomas is unknown. Researchers speculate that genetic and immunologic abnormalities,
environmental factors (e.g., exposure to ultraviolet rays, certain chemicals, ionizing radiation), diet, stress, and/ or other factors may play contributing roles in causing specific types of cancer,” according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
Allie was diagnosed when she was 4 after staff at A Kid’s Place in Benton noticed she was acting different.
When she suffered a mild seizure, doctors conducted a MRI and located a tumor that covered the whole frontal right lobe of the youngster’s brain.
In April 2018, doctors removed 90 percent of the tumor during surgery. Allie then had to undergo chemotherapy for a year.
Before being diagnosed, Allie was completely normal. Her parents never suspect anything was wrong.
This is not the first time the car dealership has sponsored a wish.
Since 2016, Everett Buick GMC has granted four wishes for Saline County children.
“Make-a-wish is one of our favorite charities to sponsor. Watching the joy of their wish coming true is our blessing. These children and their families have been through so much and it makes our hearts so glad that we can be a part of putting
smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts. All of our family and employees love being a part of Make-awish,” said Co-owner Susie Everett.
Cathy Tuggle, a representative for Make-a-wish, also expressed her appreciation for the dealership’s donation.
“We at Make A Wish Mid-south are so grateful to generous and kind supporters like Susie Everett and her amazing team at Everett Buick GMC,” Tuggle said. “The Everett Family have been so extremely thoughtful in not only opening up their doors for the wish reveals, but opening up their tender hearts. Each time, their act of
kindness brings a sparkle and a smile to that child’s face, as well as their family’s. It’s truly a genuine and heartfelt moment for everyone involved. We cannot begin to thank them for their extraordinary generosity.”
According to the organization, a wish experience can be a game-changer for a child with a critical illness.
“For wish kids, just the act of making their wish come true can give them the courage to comply with their medical treatments. Parents might finally feel like they can be optimistic. And still others might realize all they have to offer the world through volunteer work or philanthropy,” according to the organization. “Whatever the odds, whatever the obstacles ... wishes find a way to make the world better.”