A Dexter girl has had her wish granted by the Make A Wish Foundation. Six-year-old Rylee Howard, who has under gone multiple heart surgeries since her birth, was granted a wish.
Rylee’s father Jody explained that to have a wish granted a child must be battling a life threatening illness.
Rylee was born in 2017 and was diagnosed at birth with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, or HLHS. HLHS is defined as a group of defects of the heart and large blood vessels. Approximately one of every 960 babies born in the U.S. has the condition. With HLHS, most of the left side of the heart is small and underdeveloped, affecting the mitral valve, the left ventricle, the aortic valve and the aorta itself. The condition prohibits oxygen-rich blood from being properly distributed throughout the body.
Howard said the Make A Wish Foundation requires documentation from doctors to ensure no one submits inaccurate information.
Howard said a wish granter will contact the family. Rylee’s wish granter was Brenda McKnight, out of Poplar Bluff. He said Rylee was asked questions such as if you could be somebody who would you want to be or if you could see something what would you want to see.
Through the questioning it was determined Rylee wanted to go to a concert or concert venue, see a giant sand box, be a doctor for a day and most of all meet Minnie Mouse.
It was determined that Rylee would receive a wish. Howard said Rylee’s doctor also had to approve her to travel, which he did.
The best place to meet Minnie Mouse is at Disneyland in Orlando. That is where Rylee found out she was going recently at an unveiling at Pizza Hut in Dexter. Howard said it took roughly a year from the time they found out the wish would be granted to the time it was granted.
So Rylee along with her dad Jody, her mom Jacinda Cossey, step-father Kenny Cossey and her brother Alex Cossey boarded a plane in St. Louis and headed for Orlando. Howard said the entire trip was covered financially including spending money for souvenirs/keep sakes. Upon landing in Orlando, the family saw a lady at the airport holding a sign that said ‘Give Kids the World Village Welcomes Rylee Howard’. The family was allowed to keep the sign.
Howard said their luggage was picked up and they were taken to the rent a car facility. They were then sent on their way to the village.
Howard said they stayed in Give Kids the World Village. Only wish kids and their families stay at this village. Howard said originally the owner of the village had a hotel with a few rooms for wish kids going to Disneyland.
He said the owner built the village after calling a family to let them know a room was available and their child’s wish would be granted. He was informed that the child had passed away. Howard said the owner was distraught by this news and the village was built on an 88 acre amusement park with over 180 apartment buildings in an effort to ensure all the wishes would be granted.
Howard said all workers at the village were volunteers. He said one day during the the trip a basketball team in Orlando for a tournament volunteered at the village during an off day from the tournament.
“At the Give Kids the World, they treat the kids like they are the world’s famous celebrity, said Howard. “They go all out.”
At the Give Kids the World village Rylee was given a gold star to sign/color how she wanted. The star was then given to a star fairy who places it in the facility. The next day Rylee and her family went to a large room, The House of Stars, to view the star. Thousands of stars were on the ceiling.
“When I saw all of these stars, there were probably 50 thousand stars,” Howard said. “Each individual star was a sick kid who was granted a wish that stayed there. It was too much, too many sick kids. It broke me down, I was crying.”
Rylee’s star was unveiled in a special ceremony. Rylee and her family were able to view the star that will hang forever at the facility. Howard said the family is welcome to visit twice a year to view the star.
The village also had plenty of games, a pool and activities for the family to enjoy.
Howard said when they arrived at Disneyland they were required to take a train or boat from the parking area to the park. The family tried out both modes of transportation.
Rylee was given a lightning pass as a wish kid. This allowed her and her family to move to the front of lines for rides at Disney Land. Howard said visits with the Disney characters were extended as well.
Rylee wore a button so the park staff and characters knew her status.
Howard said the characters with most kids visit a minute or two. But for wish kids the visit was extended to abut ten minutes.
Rylee met several Disney princesses, Goofy, Donald, Mickey and yes Minnie Mouse. Howard said when she met Minnie, Rylee told her she loved her.
Howard said instead of waiting in line with other families to meet characters, park staff sent them to the exit side of visiting area when they saw Rylee’s button. This allowed them to move to the front of the lines.
Howard said the temperature was around 90 during their visit. The characters would also visit the village.
It did however rain during a parade at Disney world. Howard said he didn’t want the Rylee and her brother to get wet so he acquired some rain ponchos at a gift shop.
Rylee and her family also got to visit Sea World on their trip. Howard said they left Sea World a little early as Rylee was a little unsure of some of the animals. They did however, view dolphins and sting rays up close.
Howard said Rylee got to check something else she wanted to see off the list. He took her to the beach and she saw her “giant sand box”. Rylee was able to play in the sand and sit at the water’s edge as the Atlantic Ocean splashed around her.
Upon their return home Rylee returned to her physical and occupational therapy. She returned to her cardiologist for a checkup and she will start kindergarten in the fall. Throughout her journey she continues to inspire those around her.