Bonnie Kubas made a wish, that the treatments her son Ryan received to combat a brain tumor would eventually result in a clean bill of health. After extensive surgery and a series of more than 30 radiation treatments, it appears that wish has been granted. Somewhere along the way, Bonnie also submitted her son’s name as a potential candidate for Make-A-Wish Foundation recognition. Beginning with a limousine ride Friday afternoon, and ending with a very special surprise later in the evening, that wish was granted as well.
A limousine took Ryan, his mother, and his girlfriend, Jessica Weaver, to Wendy’s – his favorite restaurant – for dinner. While Ryan was tackling a triple quarter-pounder biggee at Wendy’s, a team of Make-A-Wish volunteers were busy putting together the entertainment system in his bedroom.
While only part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation was helping make things happen at Wendy’s, the rest were busy coordinating things inside the Kubas home. “We had to keep it all a secret,” said Bonnie. “Ryan knew that his wish was granted, but he thought he was not going to get all his wishes. He thought they were not able to get everything.”
When Ryan got back he walked into his room and yelled “Sweet!” A new widescreen LCD television, sound system, and, most notably, a Sony PlayStation 3 were all set up for him and his friends. A party followed, with plenty of Ryan’s favorite foods.
Ryan, who turned 18 on Christmas Eve, laughed as he described the graphics of the new $600 gaming system, which caused a worldwide hoopla when it was released last November. “It is very realistic, much better than the Playstation 2, it’s awesome.”
A common misconception about The Make-A-Wish program is that it is designed to assist terminally ill patients. “We help children with life-threatening illnesses,” said wish-granters Patti Rainville and Penni LaFlame. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that the illnesses are terminal.”
Via SAmessenger, thanks to Marco for sending this in.