Delaware child with brain tumor meets President Obama

July 20, 2009 - PRLog -- DOVER, Del.-Ta’Kiyah,a 12-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007, made a special trip to the White House to meet President Obama thanks to the help of Kids Wish Network.

Prior to her diagnosis, Ta’Kiyah used to complain about having headaches.  She was taken to the hospital by her Aunt Cherie, and doctors discovered a malignant tumor on her brain.  Ta’Kiyah spent about seven months in the hospital, and underwent chemotherapy to treat the tumor.  She is currently in remission.

When a friend at the City Council of Dover told Cherie about Kids Wish Network, a nationally recognized non-profit organization that grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses, she was excited about the prospect of having a wish granted for Ta’Kiyah.  Together with the help of Wish Coordinator Madeline, Wish Funding Specialist Megan, and some very special sponsors, Ta’Kiyah was on her way to the nation’s capital.  A limo ride, hotel stay at the beautiful Hotel Adams, where President Obama stayed prior to the inauguration, dinner at the Hard Rock Café, a trip to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and a trip to southern style restaurant Georgia Brown’s were also included in Ta’Kiyah’s wish.

“Kids Wish Network is a great place,” said Cherie.  “They did all they could to make Ta’Kiyah’s wish come true.”

Ta’Kiyah wanted to visit President Obama, because she wanted to ask him how it feels to be living in the White House; but her nerves got the best of her.  

“I kept covering my eyes.  I wasn’t crying.  My eyes were just watery that day,” she said.

Cherie said that Ta’Kiyah was so nervous when she saw President Obama, but he told her, “Ta’Kiyah, you can take your hands off your eyes.  It’s going to be OK.”

“When he told her it was going to be OK, she calmed down a little, little bit,” Cherie said.  “He took the time to embrace her.”

Ta’Kiyah said her favorite part of the whole trip was shaking President Obama’s hand and dinner at the Hard Rock Café where she was made into a rock star.  She also brought a scrapbook to show the president, with photos, special certificates and her report card.

“I was very impressed.  He really took his time and looked at every picture and asked her what each picture represented,” said Cherie.  “Thumbs up to everybody who made this possible for Ta’Kiyah.”

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Ta’Kiyah’s wish come true: Dover Masonic Lodge, Open Arms Baptist Church, People’s United Church of Dover, The White House and President Obama, Hay Adams Hotel, Hard Rock Café, Camelot Limousine Services, Georgia Brown’s, Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the National Park service.

Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children.  Aside from granting wishes, Kids Wish Network also has several other programs which benefit children’s care facilities. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org

Written by: Elizabeth Perez

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Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children through their uniquely specialized programs.