FEBRUARY 26, 2006; New Update of FEBRUARY 23, 2006 report Hawk's trip to Florida (with pics)

On January 17, 2006, Hawk was asked by "Make A Wish" grantor Victoria Thoman asked Hawk what he wanted the most in the world. He said that he wanted to go to Disney World. Victoria asked him several questions to see if he wanted to do anything else. His answer was always the same, "He wanted to go to Disney World". Victoria started to make the preparations for him to go. Make A Wish would pay for Hawk and his immediate family. Maternal grandparents, Barbara and Ken McPeak (Mimi & Pa), planned to go also, paying for their own way.

Hawk finished his 30 radiation treatments on 2/1/06. It was originally planned to have his trip 4-6 weeks after the radiation was completed. But, Victoria called on January 30, 2006, and informed Lindy that the trip would have to be 2/7-13/06, if the family was going to be able to stay for 7 days and 6 nights and go before April 2006. Hawk's doctor approved Hawk being able to make the trip and all plans were completed. Victoria soon met with the family to inform them that they were going to be able to stay in the village of "Give Kids the World ("GKTW")". This was wonderful for the family because of the great facilities. Most people have heard of Make a Wish but very few have heard of Give Kids the World. This Foundation was founded by Henri Landwirth. More information about this very generous man and the great foundation he formed can be found at the web site of the foundation or in a book Gift of Life by Henri Landwirth with J. P. Hendricks. We have the book if anyone would like to borrow it for reading. Everything at the village is free to the family. All guests are referrals by Make A Wish. Just for your information, the village can use up to 1,000 volunteers a week to help with operations. Soon of the volunteers are seasonal, people that come during their vacation just to help. Everyone is very friendly, doing anything they can to help the guests enjoy their visit.


On the morning of Tuesday, 2/7/06, Hawk, Lindy, Skyla, Mimi, Pa and Mark Taylor, Lindy's fiance, were picked up by a limo from Signature Limousine Service at 9:30 AM. After loading the trunk and front seat of the limo with our luggage, we left the house and drove to the Learning Center ("LC") where Hawk and Skyla attend the pre-school program. Hawk wanted to show off this car, bigger than Pa's truck, to all his classmates. We drove into the parking lot at the LC. All of his classmates came out and joined Hawk on the inside of the limo. Everyone had a great time. Hawk would not get out of the limo. It was almost as if he thought if he got out he would be left there.

Then it was off to the airport. With Skyla strapped in her car seat, Hawk and Mom worked on some maze drawings, which Hawk enjoys do much. He finishes a book of mazes as fast as they are bought. We were met at the airport by Victoria and we were soon on the Southwest Airlines plane. He really enjoyed looking out the window seeing the plane being pushed back from the gate, going down the runway and finally flying into the air. He looked out the window for a long time until he again started to work with his mazes and workbooks.

After we had been in the air for about an hour, a stewardess came by and gave Pa and Mimi a folded note that she said she had found in the aisle at the back of the plane. On the outside it was penned " Make A Wish - Tomorrow - Enjoy Orlando" Then on the inside of the notice, it was penned "Please accept a little gift to make this trip a little better. My Prayers are with your son and your family. God Bless. PS Have a Great Time". Included in the folded note was a hundred dollar bill. No announcements had been made. Hawk had his Make a Wish Shirt on and apparently the individual had noticed it and had generously blessed Hawk. It is our prayer that this individual be Blessed by the Lord.


We were the last to get off the plane when we landed in Orlando. The Captain asked Hawk to come into the cockpit. Hawk quickly grabbed the wheel and was ready to fly the plane just like driving the John Deere tractor or Dodge truck on the farm. He is all boy.








We were met at the airport by a GKTW greeter and led to the National Car Rental center to pick up a van, which we definitely needed. We filled it full. The greeter give us directions to the GKTW village and we were off.


We arrived at the village and were assigned to Villa 177, a two bedroom apartment with a full kitchen, a fold out sofa, and a great porch with two rockers. We were at the end of the cul-de-sac on the edge of the property. The porch was screened by landscaping from the road so it was very private. It was wonderful to sit on the porch and relax. We had our own orange tree that was loaded with fruit.

After a supper of pizza, Mimi and Hawk explored the village after supper. They went to the ice cream parlor, which stayed open 12-14 hours a day. They rode the carousel and played games in the castle, which had rooms of crafts and all the toys you could ever imagine. They rode the train around the village. The nice lady engineer let Hawk drive the train with her, blow the whistle and ring the bell. They also went in the train house which had seven trains on a very detailed platform with a town. They also drove the remote boats on the lagoon.

Later in the week, Hawk would get on the train by himself and ride. There were a conductor and two engineers, so there was no problem. He would come back riding on the lap of one of the engineers, ringing the bell for all he was worth.

On the morning of Wednesday, 2/8/06, the family was off to the Magic Kingdom. The monarail was written to the entrance. Ms. Lisa Fox, a parent at the LC; thankfully, suggested and loaned the family a double stroller. It proved to be a great blessing. We often looked like the Beverly Hillbillies with coats hanging off the top, bottles of water in holders and a bucket of popcorn for Skyla hanging off the handles. Hawk rode the Dumbo ride first. Then, the family rode Its a Small World after All. Then it was off to the Peter Pan ride. Hawk liked it very much and asked to ride again. The Disney employees said that would be fine. Hawk was always granted his wishes by the Disney employees which made him feel so special. On the second ride, Skyla fell asleep. She was put in the stroller and a blanket covered the top and sides. While she and Pa found a quiet place for a 1 1/2 hour nap, Hawk and Mimi rode the big train all the way around the park and then several rides with Mom and Mark. The entire family joined up latter.

Hawk and Skyla met Minnie, Goofy, Piglet, Pooh, Tiger, Rabbit, Donald and many more characters. Hawk had a special audience and picture with about a dozen of the characters at one time. He went to see a 3-D movie with Donald Duck and then the Bear Jamboree.

Hawk had been put back on the steroids on Thursday, 2/2/06, the week before he left on the trip because of showing some weakness in his left leg again. The family had worried that Hawk would be effected by being more moody or with reduced energy. Our prayers were answered by the Lord. Hawk had great energy. He put the family to bed with a smile at night asking "what are we going to do tomorrow?" He was usually the first up asking "what are we going to do today and when are we going?"

Most mornings, Mark and Pa took Skyla and Hawk to have a big breakfast at the Gingerbread house in GKTW. Everyone one there were wonderful. Hawk could eat anything that he wanted.

On Thursday, 2/9/06, Hawk went to the Animal Kingdom. He enjoyed seeing all the live animals. On the safari ride, he saw giraffes, rhinos, hippos, otters, zebras, monkeys and all kinds of birds. The birds were in a large sanctuary covered with a large net so the birds were flying free over his head. Hawk looked in amazement at the blind molerats that live under the ground. The family went to the 3-D movie "Bugs Life" under the Tree of Life. The movie was so realistic. The bugs and bees came right out into the audience. One bug "pooted" on us and it smelled really, really bad. Skyla and Pa had to leave, but not Hawk. He thought it was funny. Hawk rode on the Dinosaur ride really high in the air. Hawk liked it and asked to go again, which he was allowed to do.


While we were waiting to see the parade of all the characters, Skyla hugged Hawk and held his face in her hands. It was a very special moment that lasted almost a minute. They LOVE each other so much. We went to the Lion King Show last before the park closed for the day. It was a very special day.

On Friday, 2/10/06, they family went to what Hawk called "Apricot". He had heard us talking about going to Epcot. Hawk loved seeing the Living Sea the most. He especially liked the interactive movie with the turtle from Nemo. Mom even got to talk to the turtle. We stayed till after dark, ending in the country of Finland, riding the roll-a-coaster ride.

On Saturday, 2/11/06, the family went to Universal Studios and Adventure Island. Many shows were seen and rides ridden. The temperature highs for the week had been in the 60's and 70's. The weather started to change. It started to become very windy and started to rain late in the afternoon. The family left the park early.

On Sunday, 2/12/06, the family returned to Universal Studios and Adventure Island. It was much cooler with temperatures in the 40's and 50's with a strong wind. Several characters were seen and Hawk got their autographs including Curious George; and Shaggy and Scooby-Doo. Hawk rode several drives. Skyla was not feeling good and would not be satisfied. Pa took her back to the van where she took over an hour nap. When Pa walked her back into the park, she continued to be fussy. Pa took her to a private room where they stayed until the park closed. Hawk continued to ride on the rides and see shows with the family. He had a great time.

On Monday, 2/13/06, the family decided to stay at the village. We packed up our bags and were prepared to go to the airport for the 4:35 PM departure. Hawk, Mom and Mark went out to ride the train, play miniature golf and enjoy the activities of the village. The agreement was to be back by 2 PM. We decided that we should leave a little earlier but the cell phones did not work. The family got back together and finally got out of the village about 2:15 PM, still with a lot of time to make the plane. BUT, it was decided that we must go to the Super Target for some Florida items, like we did not have 5 carry on bags of Disney items already. When we got to the mall, it was decided that Jo Ann's must also be visited, because TN does not have these stores. ??? Just to make it complete, Mark also had to make a side store visit. Skyla, Hawk and I waited in the van. We were to be back on the road by 2:35 PM. Was I ever dreaming.

It was almost 3 PM when we left the mall. Then, we decided to take the scenic route to the airport. It was decided that I would drop everyone at the curb and take the van to rental return. We pulled up to the Southwest Airlines curb side baggage check about 3:45 PM. Just a little worry is beginning to develop for Pa. We had to get our boarding passes. After stopping at the SW sky cap stop, we noticed that it was closed and that we needed to move about 50 feet farther down. There was a snow bird driver in a car immediately in front of us that had dropped his passenger off and just got back into his car. There were several empyt spaces in front of him. I waited for him to pull out. After several minutes of him adjusting his mirrows, his seat, his seat belt, he then went back through the process 4 more times. By this time, 4 cars had pulled in front of him and there were no open spaces. I politely walked up to his car and asked him if he was through building his barn, he had been there long enough to have finished, and if he was ready to move. He explained that the world did not revolve around us and to relax. I patiently want back to the van, "counting to 10" and we immediately unloaded there. A sky cap finally came and I left to return the van. The family was instructed to not wait for me, to get on the plane, that I might have to catch a latter flight. The van was returned in record time and I rushed to the security check. As I rounded the corner to security, a crowd of 200 people greeted me all with bags of Disney items, which would have to be checked. As the lines inched forward, I turned and noticed the family on the other side of the room, BEHIND ME. So much for making the 4:35 PM flight, we thought. Barbara then called across the room. A SW airlines employee had pulled them out of the lines and moved them to a side security check point. After completely stripping ( including shoes, belt and almost everything I had) and having 9 carry on bags for the group checked, we ran to the gate just in time to do the preboarding. We all fell into our seats, exhausted. It was a full flight. Thank goodness, Make A Wish had a ticket for Skyla so we were able to have her in her car seat in a plane seat. She did not sleep on the ride home and I would have hated to have tried to hold her in our lap for the flight.

We arrived at Nashville, only to find that Mark's luggage had not make it on our flight. We also soon learned that there had been miscommunication and the limo was not there. After about an hour and half delay, we had a wonderful ride home. Hawk was hungry and we asked if we could go to Old McDonald's to get him chicken and fries. Of coarse, his wish was granted. Hawk fell asleep eating his chicken and fries on the ride home.

This was a wonderful trip. We have included some of the companies that supported the trip making it special. There are so many more that have not been mentioned. Thanks to everyone and may you be blessed by your generousity. The Lord Blessed us with a Wonderful Trip that everyone fully enjoyed, especially Hawk. He was also with us very much to get us home Monday night in great spirits and laughing at all the day's events. Praise the Lord for all His Goodness to Hawk and our family!