Diver Signals Wish Surprise from Aquarium Tank
14-year-old Surprised with News His Wish is Coming True!
Grey’s Wish: To Go To Atlantis Resort With His Family
Nashville’s 14-year-old Grey Andrews has Duchene’s Muscular Dystrophy. Upon learning of his condition, volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation contacted Grey to let him know he was eligible for a wish. Grey’s Wish: To Go To Atlantis to enjoy the Lazy River and have an opportunity to hang out with the dolphins. Once he made his Wish to Go to Atlantis Resort with his family, volunteers and staff began all the arrangements to make his wish come true. Although his parents were fully aware of the plans for his surprise and upcoming trip, Grey had no idea he his wish might come true. In the past few months, each time he had inquired about his wish, his parents had told him that perhaps he would hear from the Make-A-Wish volunteers this summer, or maybe later.
On Sunday, March 8th, Grey and his family went to the Aquarium at Opry Mills for a brunch scheduled prior to his brother’s basketball game. Grey enjoyed his meal and the entertainment provided by active fish in the large Aquarium. Grey was fascinated as a diver entered the large pool, put his gear on, petted a large green eel, and checked out several of the fish. The diver then swam over to the area in front of Grey’s table and held up first one sign: ”Grey Your Make-A-Wish is Coming True!” and then another that said “Grey, You’re Going To Atlantis!”
An astonished Grey said, “I wondered why I hadn’t heard anything about my wish – now I know why!” His parents, brothers, and sister, along with everyone in the restaurant, cheered, sharing the joy of his wish surprise.
Grey tried to contain his excitement as his wish granter, Karen Creason, came over to his table, and gave him the details of his upcoming trip, along with a travel bag, a digital camera and other gifts from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee. After learning about his wish, Grey and his family also enjoyed petting the stingrays at Stingray Reef while contemplating his upcoming opportunity to swim with the dolphins at the Atlantis Resort. His wish was now a reality.
The Aquarium Restaurant donated lunch for Grey and his family, along with a visit to Stingray Reef.
About The Make-A-Wish Foundation ®
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 67 chapters in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish every 40 minutes and has granted more than 161,000 wishes in the U.S. since inception.
The Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, the youngest Make-a-Wish Chapter in the country, recently won national awards for Performance Excellence and for the 2008 Infinite Wish – a wish that involved the entire community. The Middle Tennessee chapter has granted more than 650 wishes since its founding in 2000. To refer a child with a life-threatening medical condition, call 615-259-2324 Ext 11. Individuals can make donations or donate frequent flyer miles at www.midtnwishes.org, call 615-259-2324 Ext 15, or send donations to The Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Middle Tennessee, 209 10th Avenue South, Suite 527, Nashville, TN, 37203.
