At 11 a.m. each weekday, Karen Sheridan flips the TV to CBS. As the opening to “The Price is Right” comes on from across the room, her daughter, Katie's, eyes widened, her face lights up and she gets a smile that stretches almost from ear to ear.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Katie Sheridan, 15, who has carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome, recently took a trip to Broadway to see “Beauty and the Beast” as part of the Kids Wish Network.
Katie Sheridan, 15, who has carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome, recently took a trip to Broadway to see “Beauty and the Beast” as part of the Kids Wish Network.
“She loves Bob Barker,” Karen said. “When she's extremely happy, she lights up a room.”
Katie, 15, has carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome, a genetic metabolism disorder that affects how the body breaks down sugars, Karen said. Katie therefore cannot speak, walk and must be tube fed. She started having seizures when she was just 5. To communicate, she uses yes, no cards or eye gazes to point out something she wants.
“But she's definitely a teenager. She'll do things like just ignore some people. If she doesn't want to do (something), she'll just look like ‘No, I'm not going to do that,'” Karen said laughing.
Her family has nicknamed her Bratini when she does that - a word Karen swears will sweep the nation. “You take her to the movies, and she'll laugh at the jokes, no matter how inappropriate. Oh, and John DiPasquale, the Channel 5 weather man at noon, she has such a crush on him. And she loves jewelry; she's definitely a girly girl.”
But Katie, who was named after her great-grandmother, Catherine, has one thing that might trump her love of the weather man or even Bob Barker: It's “Beauty and the Beast.”
“It is her die hard favorite,” Karen said. “We wore our VHS tape out, and when it came out on DVD, I bought two copies. We've already wore one. I'm waiting for it to be re-released so I can buy more.”
When Katie is going through a rough spot with her illness, Karen said “The Beauty and the Beast” is one of the only things that will relax her. So when Karen heard about the Kids Wish Network, she went to service coordinator Cindy Springstead at the Gavras Center in Auburn to find out how to go about getting the wish of going to New York City to see “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway granted.
“Cindy is my go-to person,” Karen said. “Anything we need, I go to her. She will help us figure out how to make it possible. She helped getting the ramp put on the front of the house. Anything we need.”
To get a wish, a child must have a life-theatening illness, said Kids Wish Network wish coordinator Jessica Elsasser. A doctor must sign off that is the case, and then the network, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this October, will grant every wish that comes through. In the last fiscal year, that included 569 wishes of sending children to Disney World, meeting celebrities, other travel or granting commodities like computers, above ground pools or big screen TVs.
Springstead helped Karen fulfill the application process, and after Dr. Hoffman at Summit Pediatrics in Auburn signed off, Katie found out in February that it was definite - she was going to New York City.
Elsasser contacted the family and set a date. In anticipation, Karen made a calendar, and, as each day passed, they crossed off the days until departure. They left May 9 and returned to Auburn May 13 - Mother's Day and Katie's birthday.
Before they even left, the network sent Katie two huge boxes full of toys, puzzles, clothing, books and other things, Karen said.
“There was a 'Kid of the Month' T-shirt that she wore on the plane,” she said.
When they arrived the first night after traveling from Syracuse to the Kimpton Hotel at 70 Park Ave, Katie was welcomed by a teddy bear sitting on the bed dressed as a Yankees player.
“That was a big hit,” Karen said. “We're huge Yankees fans.”
There was also a Broadway Diva bear for Katie's younger sister Terra, 8, who also took the trip along with Karen's friend Sarah Stanley.
The next day was the big one. The Kids Wish Network, which takes care of all expenses through sponsorship and donations, sent them to the Central Park Zoo, Planet Hollywood for dinner, where they sat next to “The Beauty and the Beast” dress display, and then off to the show.
“That was the day of the wish,” Karen said. “Her initial reaction (at the show) was just what I hoped it would be.”
Sitting five rows back, center stage, the orchestra started and Karen said Katie immediately began looking around and then the haggard woman came on and gave the prince the rose.
“The look on her face; it was like 'Oh my god, they're real,'” Karen said. “And then Belle came on, and she was shocked. Usually when she watches the movies, she will sing or make noises like humming along with the songs, but she only sang with the show twice.”
The non-profit Kids Wish Network relies heavily on sponsorship, Elsasser said. Things like accommodations, transportation and tickets are often donated or discounted. Individual donations also help with any costs sponsorship does not cover. In the event that the cost of a wish still isn't covered, the foundation does have a budget and will make sure it happens.
“As long as it gets done, we don't care,” Elsasser said. “And we praise our sponsors. Every one gets thank you letters or plaques of appreciation.”
On day three in New York City, they went to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum where they got their pictures with everyone from Regis Philbin to Hillary Clinton to Jennifer Lopez.
The next day was spent on a three-hour cruise around the island of Manhattan with views of the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center rebuilding, Empire State Building and (drum roll, please) Yankee Stadium.
“The places (Kids Wish Network) sent us - they couldn't have picked any better,” Karen said. “It was perfect. I called Jessica every day, even if it was just to laugh that I paid $24 for four six-ounce sodas.”
After the wish is done, Elsasser said the network will keep in touch and check to see how the child is doing. A second wish may be granted after three years, if their condition has declined.
“With all the stresses of medical bills and the stress they already have from their illness, it's a chance to get them away from that and do whatever the dream of the child is,” Elsasser said. “We give them things they're not able to do without some sort of help. And whatever it takes, we do what we have to. It's all about the kids.”
Staff writer Laura Boyce can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 236 or at laura.boyce@lee.net
Katie, 15, has carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein syndrome, a genetic metabolism disorder that affects how the body breaks down sugars, Karen said. Katie therefore cannot speak, walk and must be tube fed. She started having seizures when she was just 5. To communicate, she uses yes, no cards or eye gazes to point out something she wants.
“But she's definitely a teenager. She'll do things like just ignore some people. If she doesn't want to do (something), she'll just look like ‘No, I'm not going to do that,'” Karen said laughing.
Her family has nicknamed her Bratini when she does that - a word Karen swears will sweep the nation. “You take her to the movies, and she'll laugh at the jokes, no matter how inappropriate. Oh, and John DiPasquale, the Channel 5 weather man at noon, she has such a crush on him. And she loves jewelry; she's definitely a girly girl.”
But Katie, who was named after her great-grandmother, Catherine, has one thing that might trump her love of the weather man or even Bob Barker: It's “Beauty and the Beast.”
“It is her die hard favorite,” Karen said. “We wore our VHS tape out, and when it came out on DVD, I bought two copies. We've already wore one. I'm waiting for it to be re-released so I can buy more.”
When Katie is going through a rough spot with her illness, Karen said “The Beauty and the Beast” is one of the only things that will relax her. So when Karen heard about the Kids Wish Network, she went to service coordinator Cindy Springstead at the Gavras Center in Auburn to find out how to go about getting the wish of going to New York City to see “Beauty and the Beast” on Broadway granted.
“Cindy is my go-to person,” Karen said. “Anything we need, I go to her. She will help us figure out how to make it possible. She helped getting the ramp put on the front of the house. Anything we need.”
To get a wish, a child must have a life-theatening illness, said Kids Wish Network wish coordinator Jessica Elsasser. A doctor must sign off that is the case, and then the network, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this October, will grant every wish that comes through. In the last fiscal year, that included 569 wishes of sending children to Disney World, meeting celebrities, other travel or granting commodities like computers, above ground pools or big screen TVs.
Springstead helped Karen fulfill the application process, and after Dr. Hoffman at Summit Pediatrics in Auburn signed off, Katie found out in February that it was definite - she was going to New York City.
Elsasser contacted the family and set a date. In anticipation, Karen made a calendar, and, as each day passed, they crossed off the days until departure. They left May 9 and returned to Auburn May 13 - Mother's Day and Katie's birthday.
Before they even left, the network sent Katie two huge boxes full of toys, puzzles, clothing, books and other things, Karen said.
“There was a 'Kid of the Month' T-shirt that she wore on the plane,” she said.
When they arrived the first night after traveling from Syracuse to the Kimpton Hotel at 70 Park Ave, Katie was welcomed by a teddy bear sitting on the bed dressed as a Yankees player.
“That was a big hit,” Karen said. “We're huge Yankees fans.”
There was also a Broadway Diva bear for Katie's younger sister Terra, 8, who also took the trip along with Karen's friend Sarah Stanley.
The next day was the big one. The Kids Wish Network, which takes care of all expenses through sponsorship and donations, sent them to the Central Park Zoo, Planet Hollywood for dinner, where they sat next to “The Beauty and the Beast” dress display, and then off to the show.
“That was the day of the wish,” Karen said. “Her initial reaction (at the show) was just what I hoped it would be.”
Sitting five rows back, center stage, the orchestra started and Karen said Katie immediately began looking around and then the haggard woman came on and gave the prince the rose.
“The look on her face; it was like 'Oh my god, they're real,'” Karen said. “And then Belle came on, and she was shocked. Usually when she watches the movies, she will sing or make noises like humming along with the songs, but she only sang with the show twice.”
The non-profit Kids Wish Network relies heavily on sponsorship, Elsasser said. Things like accommodations, transportation and tickets are often donated or discounted. Individual donations also help with any costs sponsorship does not cover. In the event that the cost of a wish still isn't covered, the foundation does have a budget and will make sure it happens.
“As long as it gets done, we don't care,” Elsasser said. “And we praise our sponsors. Every one gets thank you letters or plaques of appreciation.”
On day three in New York City, they went to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum where they got their pictures with everyone from Regis Philbin to Hillary Clinton to Jennifer Lopez.
The next day was spent on a three-hour cruise around the island of Manhattan with views of the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center rebuilding, Empire State Building and (drum roll, please) Yankee Stadium.
“The places (Kids Wish Network) sent us - they couldn't have picked any better,” Karen said. “It was perfect. I called Jessica every day, even if it was just to laugh that I paid $24 for four six-ounce sodas.”
After the wish is done, Elsasser said the network will keep in touch and check to see how the child is doing. A second wish may be granted after three years, if their condition has declined.
“With all the stresses of medical bills and the stress they already have from their illness, it's a chance to get them away from that and do whatever the dream of the child is,” Elsasser said. “We give them things they're not able to do without some sort of help. And whatever it takes, we do what we have to. It's all about the kids.”
Staff writer Laura Boyce can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 236 or at laura.boyce@lee.net
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