Maryland teen granted wish to meet Washington Wizards
Beltsville, Maryland (PRWEB) April 07, 2015 -- Surrounded by cameras, cheerleaders, and adoring fans, 13-year-old Elijah Taylor recently became an honorary member of the Washington Wizards on his wish trip granted by Kids Wish Network.
“Elijah doesn’t get to go out and do things like other kids, so this has been really special for him,” said his mom, Silreaka Taylor.
Thanks to the children’s charity Kids Wish Network, the Beltsville, MD, teen was treated to a once-in-a-lifetime VIP experience with the Wizards that included meeting the team, touring the locker room, sitting in the President’s Suite, and even taking home player John Wall’s shoes.
For Elijah, the experience was something he’s always dreamed of; the teen is an avid basketball fan, even though his wheelchair keeps him cheering from the sidelines. Elijah was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, two life-threatening conditions that have lead to multiple surgeries over the years. To treat the hydrocephalus, a shunt was implanted in Elijah’s brain after birth to drain the built-up fluid, but caused Elijah to start suffering seizures and has required several revision surgeries.
Despite these struggles, Elijah manages to keep a smile on his face almost all the time. On his wish trip, his smile managed to grow even bigger.
Kids Wish Network worked with the Washington Wizards and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation to give Elijah a D.C. superstar experience. Besides the exciting game, Kids Wish Network planned several days of fun activities.
“I’m really appreciative of Kids Wish Network for this experience; it has been great for Elijah,” adds Taylor. “He will be talking about this for a long time.”
On behalf of Elijah and his mother, Kids Wish Network would like to thank all the generous Guardian Angel sponsors that helped make Elijah’s wish come true: The Washington Wizards, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, Renaissance Washington D.C. Downtown Hotel, Abes Limousine Service, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, Spy Museum, East Coast Balloon Company, LLC, Hello Cupcakes, Daily Grill, Ella’s Wood Fired Pizza, The Jefferson Hotel Greenhouse Restaurant, and Prince George’s County Elks Lodge #1778.
Kids Wish Network is a nationwide charitable organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children having experienced life-altering situations. Visit http://www.kidswishnetwork.org to learn more and find out how you can help makes dreams come true and sponsor a wish for a deserving child.
Sarah DuPree, Kids Wish Network, +1 (727) 937-3600, [email protected]
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