When a 4-year-old Ohio girl, named McKenna May, was diagnosed with cancer, the Make-A-Wish Foundation agreed to send her to Disney World. Because of medical treatments, she wasn’t initially able to go, and was forced to cancel 2 planned trips. Since then she has made a significant recovery and now is physically able to go. McKenna was told that she would be going several months ago, and has been excited about it since.
But now that she isn’t dying, her father, William May, has refused to sign the authorization to let the Make-A-Wish Foundation send her to Disney World. His position is that the money should be spent on a child that’s about to die. He said, “there’s children out there that deserve a trip like this that will never get to experience it. My daughter can go when she’s older and can remember it. I’ll pay for it.”
McKenna’s mother approved of the trip, saying, “She’s really excited. It’s all she’s talked about for the last three months.” The Make-A-Wish Foundation, however, requires the signatures of both parents if both parents have visitation rights or are listed on the child’s birth certificate.
Eligibility through the Foundation occurs when a child has or had a condition that would be life-threatening if left untreated. According to Paul Allvin, vice president of brand advancement for the Foundation, approximately 80% of the children for whom the Foundation provides services live to be adults. “What we would never do is penalize a child for getting better,” he explained.
When all of this hit the press, donations started pouring in. They have since received more than enough to go to Disney World and are planning on a trip in August. Whatever money is left over after the trip will provided to charity.