Ojai, CA (PRWEB) January 23, 2014 -- After 7 months of planning and almost 3 months of construction, Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties, who grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical condition, presented 15-year-old Jonah with his Skate Park Wish on Saturday, January 11. Jonah underwent surgery Jan. 9, 2013 at 14 years old for an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme. A week after this surgery he was referred to Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties by his nurse practitioner, Lavette Bowles at UCLA.
The surgery was followed by six weeks of chemotherapy and radiation, then monthly trips to UCLA for more radiation and antibody treatments as part of a clinical trial. Jonah is continuing monthly trips to Los Angeles and is also working hard in speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy, where he’s recently regained enough use of his right hand to use chopsticks.
Before he got sick, Jonah was a skateboarding fanatic. When Make-A-Wish came to visit in March of 2013, Jonah wished for a skateboarding structure, so his friends could hang out and skate even though his chemotherapy protocol did not allow for him to personally skate.
All wishes must be approved for safety by the child's own doctor. Jonah's medical team approved a skate park wish for Jonah in June 2013 with the stipulation that Jonah not ride it during his current regimen of chemotherapy.
Skateboard ramps company, OC Ramps, then started designing Jonah’s Skate Park with an eye on the day when Jonah would be medically cleared to ride once again. Jonah was involved in the design, meeting with OC Ramps owner, Tyler Large to review draft plans and make adjustments. Mark Leone, OC Ramps’ architect, helped finalize the plans, then permits were pulled and construction started in November 2013. OC Ramps provided a 55% discount on services, invite their subcontractors to do their parts at the best prices possible, and worked the production schedule around the timing of donated materials. When asked about Make-A-Wish experience as a first time donor, Tyler said, "We appreciate the opportunity to work with Jonah, his family and the Make-A-Wish team. It has been a blessing working beside Jonah and to make his wish come true in building his dream skate park. Everyone on our crew and staff has been touched and benefited from the experience of working with Jonah and his family. We've gained some amazing friends with the Cantu family- they are a strong, diligent and determined family. We truly believe in this incredible cause and we only want the best for Jonah."
Tyler attended the Wish Presentation Party along with some of his subcontractors and the part of the OC Ramps pro skate team including Steven Reeves, Christian Sereika and Nick Palmquist. Other riders that came to support were Curren Caples, Louie Lopez and Alex Midler.
Jonah’s Skate Park is designed to be fun for skaters of all levels but most especially to be accessible to Jonah when he is cleared to skate. Until that time, Jonah's Skate Park will be a great place for Jonah to hang with his friends surrounded by the sport he loves.
For more information on a skate park by OC Ramps, you can reach them on their website; http://www.ocRAMPS.com
Office: 714.285.0220 Email: Tyler(at)ocRAMPS(dot)com
Tyler Large, OC Ramps, Inc., http://www.ocRAMPS.com, +1 (714) 285-0220, [email protected]
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