Wishes

As the conversation went on Riley's wishes, we ended up exploring Nascar as an option. The pilot an airplane I thought would be first up, but Riley didn't want to do anything by himself. He wanted the whole family with him. Tom said he would go. The Women offered to look into a class Riley could take to pilot a plane, leading up to the flight. They will be looking into it. Tom said he could arrange privately with friends for Riley to pilot a plane. Tom knew several people with pilot licences who could assist with this wish.



Tom pointed out that the rocket program had ground to a halt at the moment. The shuttles had been canceled. So it is harder to find a rocket launch any time in the near future. Riley had also mentioned getting a new computer, but that was so he could give his old computer, which he just got last fall, to his brother so he wouldn't have to share anymore. Riley decided to drop that wish himself for something more interesting.



Make a wish wants a reason for wishes to make sure they are not the parents wish rather than the child. They ask questions and feel out the family to find the most suitable wish. Riley said a resort vacation would be lovely, but he couldn't say where. The women offered to wait on the wish until after the picc comes out so Riley could have a trip that involved a pool or water slide or swimming. It is a consideration to wait until next year. By that time we may be celebrating his good health. Or do we do it now while we can? They say it takes six months to grant a wish.





That left us with Nascar. I had concerns that this was Tom's wish not Riley's. But Riley said he thought going down to the pits and watching the tire changes during a race would be so cool. Tom didn't even care if the driver wasn't Jeff Gordon. Riley suggested Junior, but we all came up with names of drivers that would be fun to meet. I might even like meeting Tony Stewart or Kyle Edwards. They just built new homes, with Edwards wife decorating and designing Stewart's home for him. It took two years to build.



So the wishes are still up in the air. We gave the foundation some ideas to work with and see if they could accommodate any of them. Riley had the cruise first choice, but being on a boat if he gets sick would not be a good thing. So I am disinclined to do it unless Riley is really cured. The Doctor has to approve the trip chosen also for safety and to confirm that Riley has a life threatening illness and qualifies for Make a Wish. Tom and I feel guilty after meeting destitute families also with sick children, that Riley even qualifies. Make a wish does not consider family financial factors in granting wishes.



They have their price limit on the wish and no international travel due to medical uncertainties. I do think it pushes the family closer together. Especially when one of Riley's criteria is that the whole family gets to participate or he doesn't want to do it. Tom has never taken the boys to a Nascar race. We have been to PIR. PIR is a road race track. Riley said he wants a smaller round track with more wrecks during racing as a result. He is definitely all boy in that regard. He would probably be content with a smash up derby. Its all about the experience with Riley.



We did Disney World when the boys were 5 and 7. Riley said he had done that, he wanted something different now. I suggested Sea World, but that was more a Trevor thing, with water and fish. Riley said a resort near a zoo or sea world would be OK, but he didn't have strong feelings about it.

I told the women to check in with us at the end of May. That is when we assess Riley's condition again and make some hard decisions potentially. Since we can put the wish off as needed I am content to wait. Homestead is the last Nascar race of the year. There is plenty of time. I feel better knowing that we will be on dry ground accessible to American hospitals and ERs.