Column: Aaron Worm, Behind the Mic

What are you thankful for? That’s a question that you will probably be asked this week.

I think most of us will say a few things like family, kids, jobs and friends, among others. But I think most of us could fill a whole page and then some when we really think about what we have to be thankful for. I am thankful for the things listed above, and I have a list of things to give thanks for that keeps getting bigger every day.

Last week, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Minnesota, my son, Lukas, was granted his wish: a trip to Disney World. Two things that he really wanted to do were feed the dolphins and meet Disney’s Phineas and Ferb. (Done and done). We stayed at a place that I had never heard of a year ago but now will never ever forget. Give Kids the World is a resort in Kissimmee, Fla., for families with kids who have life-threatening diseases. It was founded in 1986 by Henri Landwirth, who had a dream to build a place where families could go for a week to fulfill their wishes. Landwirth is a Holocaust survivor and wants to help kids who are suffering just like he did.

More than 111, 000 families have visited Give Kids the World since it opened. Our family was overwhelmed and inspired by the wonderful volunteers and families. Check out this number: 1,500. That is how many volunteers donate their time there each week! Their motto there is “Where happiness inspires hope.” It has for us. I could go on and on about this magical place but I encourage you to check out their website at gktw.org and read Landwirth’s book “Gift of Life.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted more than 200,000 wishes, an average of one every 40 minutes. ESPN has aired their “Make-A-Wish” segment a few times showing athletes fulfilling dreams of these special kids. A young man from Lonsdale, near my hometown of Montgomery, was featured as he met Roger Clemens. Other athletes who have helped to grant wishes include Tim Tebow, Tedy Bruschi, Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire and the Twins. The young man wanted to be a manager for the day, and Gardy let him make out the line-up card with him, shag fly balls during batting practice and walk up with Ron Washington to present the lineup card to the umpire.

Jared Allen, of the Minnesota Vikings, also granted a wish. He met Gage, a child with an inoperable brain tumor. Allen said that the kid had one wish and that was to come meet the Minnesota Vikings. Allen added “To have that kind of impact on people’s lives, really makes you want to go out there and play extra hard.” You can go to Vikings.com to watch the video. Gage’s parents wore T-shirts to the visit that say “You never know how strong you are until your only option is to be strong.”

These kids are the strongest people I know. I am saddened for what they have to go through, but thankful for the inspiration they give to myself and so many others.

 

KATE Sports Director Aaron Worm’s column usually appears each Monday in the Tribune. He can be heard from 6 to 11 a.m. weekdays on The Breeze.