News

Make-A-Wish comes to Bottineau

By Scott Wagar

05/27/2014

The Make-A-Wish Foundation made a trip to Bottineau on Friday and surprised one nine year old elementary student in Bottineau with a wish he has wanted to see come true.

Lisa Grafstrom, executive office specialist for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Dakota, came to the Bottineau School District to grant a wish made by Connor Radtke who has Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, or LCH, a rare disease in children where too many Langerhans cells (a type of white blood cell) are produced and form tumors in the body.

THE WISH

Make-A-Wish became involved with Connor after the organization contacted Dr. Baruti Serabe, pediatrician, hematologist and oncologists at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Bismarck, about assisting children in making a wish. Dr. Serabe suggested Connor and Make-A-Wish soon contacted his parents.

When Make-A-Wish asked Connor what his wish was, he stated his dream was to travel to Walt Disney World Resort and take in “The Incredibles.”

“The Incredibles” is a computer animated Disney film about a family of superheroes trying to live a tranquil life among their fellow townspeople, but when trouble arises they are asked to step in and save the world.

Connor’s connection to “The Incredibles” came when he was diagnosed with LCH and had to take treatments for his illness, which consisted of chemotherapy and surgeries. During his treatments, he made a connection between the characters of the movie with his own family; and, in his own way he and his family became a family of superheroes in his fight against LCH.

THE SURPRISE

On Friday afternoon, grades three through six were brought into the Holwell Auditorium for a lyceum where they were all surprised as Connor learned of his trip to Florida by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“I want to see it all,” Connor said with excitement in his voice.
Connor will leave for his trip to Disney World with his family on June 21 and be at the resort for one week where he will get the opportunity to see and do everything that is Disney World and “The Incredibles.”

“Connor is very excited. He has been researching different theme parks and roller coaster rides,” said Angie Hoff, who is Connor’s mother.  “He has also typed in Disney characters to find where the characters are located in the theme parks.  Aladdin and ‘The Incredibles’ movie characters are top on his list.”

LCH

If one looks at Connor, you might never know he has been struggling with LCH. However, life for Connor has been anything but easy. In the past year he had biopsies, a number of surgeries, chemotherapy and lots of uncomfortable tests for his LCH.

When Connor was diagnosed last summer with LCH, it was discovered that he had two tumors growing in his pelvis region. He was immediately sent to Mayo Clinic where surgeons removed two tumors.

It was also discovered at that time Connor had another spot in his pelvic region. Mayo Clinic referred Connor to Sanford Hospital in Bismarck where he went through 12 weeks of chemotherapy before going back to Mayo to have a third tumor removed by surgery.

In March of this year, it was discovered that Connor is tumor free. However, Connor continues to be tested for LCH and his physicians will keep a close eye on him for a period of time because of the seriousness of the disease.

“Connor has been feeling very well,” Hoff said. “He is currently taking medication to prevent infections with his port. He is also scheduled for a PET scan and x-rays on Wednesday, May 28. These tests will determine if the LCH is still active and producing tumors again. We are praying that his tests come back negative and that the LCH has been eliminated.”

For now, it will be a week in Disney World for Connor and his family to enjoy, along with his other family, “The Incredibles” who, all together, as superheroes, fought through his treatment and come out stronger and more enlightened in the power of family and love.

MAKE-A-WISH
 
Added to the two families, is the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which is an organization with a mission to grant children’s wishes who have serious medical illness “to enrich their experiences with hope, strength and joy,” which is very pleasing to Connor’s mom.

“We are grateful and humbled for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Connor has been through so many medical procedures, strong medications, surgeries and physical changes due to side effects of medication,’ Hoff said.

“He didn’t complain a lot, but was saddened about not being able to swim, ice skate or run and play outside. Make-A-Wish is giving the gift of memories for family members to not worry about anything but enjoying their wish. We all are looking forward to this fun adventure.”

The North Dakota Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted 700 wishes since its origins in 1985 at a cost of $9,800 for each wish.  

For more information on Make-A-Wish North Dakota, call (701) 280-9474 or go to www.northdakota.wish.org.

Grafstrom is a native of Bottineau and is a 1987 graduate of Bottineau High School. She is the daughter of Lenny and Sharon McGuire of Bottineau.