Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 10-23-15 Edition

Features
‘Make A Wish’ Grants Trip To See
Republican Presidential
Volcano To Child That Suffers From Sickle Cell Anemia
Candidate Ben Carson
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Amir Brown is just nine-years-old, but already has taken a huge step toward his future career.
The future volca- nologist – along with
his father, Shaunta, mother, Khamisha,
and sister, Zaria, 7 – earlier this year got the chance to hike one of the huge craters at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, near Hilo, Ha.
Amir, who says he’s been intrigued by volcanoes since the age of five, said his walk around a live volcano was more fascinating than fearful.
“I wasn’t scared because there was lots of lava rocks,” he said.
The family’s free, week- long trip to Hawaii was made possible thanks to the Make- A-Wish Foundation, the non- profit organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening ill- nesses.
Amir, a third-grader at Tinker K-8 School on MacDill Air Force Base, suffers from sickle cell disease. It’s a blood disorder where healthy red blood cells become mis- shapen in the form of “sick- les” and have trouble passing through small blood vessels. This can cause sufferers tremendous pain.
The illness can cause ane- mia, jaundice, and the forma- tion of gallstones. It can also damage organs including the kidneys, lungs, and spleen.
Amir inherited the disease from his parents, who both carry the sickle cell trait. His pain crises – also known as attacks – were infrequent until 2013 when the Browns – a military family – moved to Florida as part of Shaunta’s new assignment at MacDill Air Force Base.
Allergies, humidity, and dehydration are all triggers for Amir’s attacks, Khamisha said.
The attacks can be incredi- bly painful, Amir said.
“When you’re in a pain cri- sis, you need a whole bunch of Tylenol,” he said. “It feels like knives are repeatedly dig- ging into your back, over and over.”
Amir’s battle with sickle cell has including multiple visits with doctors and long stays in the hospital. It was during one such 28-day stay in May 2013 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa when
Republican Presidential candidate Ben Carson is tak- ing two weeks out of his cam- paign to promote his new book, “A More Perfect Union.”
On November 3rd, Carson will be in Tampa promoting his new book at Barnes and Noble, 11802 North Dale
BEN CARSON
Mabry Highway, at 2:30 p.m.
Coming To Tampa
The Brown Family, clockwise
from top, Khamisha, Shaunta, Amir, Amir and Zaria walking on the lava and Zaria. rocks.
Khamisha was encouraged by the mother of another pa- tient to apply to Make-A- Wish and help Amir’s dream of seeing a volcano come true.
Khamisha said she hesi- tated to apply, thinking the program was only for chil- dren who suffered from more debilitating illnesses. But after some prodding, she sub- mitted Amir’s wish.
Three months later, she got a response back from the Make-A-Wish staff in Tampa: Amir’s wish was approved.
“I was in shock,” Khamisha said.
Make-A-Wish started in 1980 granting the wishes of terminally ill children. Its mission has expanded since to include children who have life-threatening medical con- ditions.
More than a year, however, would pass before the Browns could take the trip. During that time, the Make- A-Wish staff and volunteers worked to raise the money for the trip, Khamisha said.
“Make-A-Wish staff and volunteers were guardian an- gels,” she said. “They were working hard to get our wish granted.”
Finally, at the end of last year, the Browns were asked to submit dates for travel in 2015. The planning for the trip had been finalized.
Make-A-Wish threw a spe- cial going-away party and gifted the family with t-shirts, a camera, and spending money.
Working with the Browns to grant Amir’s wish was a joy, said Katie Wyatt, devel- opment and special events manager for the organiza- tion’s central and northern Florida Suncoast regional of- fice.
“We all kind of fell in love with Amir,” she said. “He has such a great personality and he’s such a trooper.”
Shaunta’s commanders at MacDill got in on the fun as well, offering him special leave.
“They realized how impor- tant this trip was,” Khamisha said.
For a week in March, the Browns got the chance to explore Hawaii’s “Big Island”. Excursions included a heli- copter tour over the island and walks on black sand beaches.
For Amir, the trip to Hawaii has only deepened his affection for volcanoes.
“I like how they explode and all the lava comes out,” he said.
But there is one thing he loves more than volcanoes.
“I love God and how he made this world for us, my parents, and my sister,” he said.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A