Seven-year-old James “Dex” Logan arrived home from school to a surprise Wish Send-Off Party held by his family and two volunteers from the Make-A-Wish foundation, on Monday, April 8.
Logan, who had recently lost one of his front teeth, had a wide, toothless grin as he hopped around the room, shouting, “Awesome!”
Local Bel Brands USA, Papa John’s, and Wal-Mart donated food and drinks to the party, in support of Logan’s wish being brought to life by the Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana chapter of Make-A-Wish.
Logan, a student at Clarkson Elementary who is currently battling aortic stynosis—a heart condition in which Logan’s aortic valve is diseased—will be departing with his mother, stepfather, and six of his seven siblings on a Disney Cruise on Saturday, April 13, courtesy of Make-A-Wish.
Logan and his family will fly out to Orlando on Saturday morning, stay the night, and then board the Disney Dream Ship for five days and four nights, Logan’s mother Carla Jenkins said.
Logan, whose heart condition prevents him from going on amusement park rides, said he wanted to go on the Disney Cruise because “Mickey and Donald will be there.”
Jenkins said she first contacted Make A Wish in August of 2012 and shortly thereafter was paired with two wish-granting volunteers, Brenda Sanders and Leighanne Scobey.
Sanders said in order to be approved for a wish, either the patient’s parent or doctor must first contact Make-A-Wish; then an application must be filled out and approved; and finally, the child must undergo a medical process to determine his or her eligibility.
After Logan was approved for his wish, Sanders said she and Scobey then sat down with him to ask him what he wanted most.
Sanders said the experience with Logan and his family has “been really great. The family is great. Dex is really excited. People don’t realize how difficult things can be on families when a child is sick, so it’s nice to be able to do something for them so they can relax.”
On December 6, 2012, Logan underwent The Ross Procedure to replace with his aortic valve, which allows him to participate in a wider range of physical activities. Previously, Logan was unable to play any sports due to his condition; however, now that he has undergone The Ross Procedure, he is medically able to play baseball, should he so desire, Jenkins said.
Sanders said Make-A-Wish is currently seeking volunteers, and anyone interested may fill out an application at makeawishky.org.
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