Disney World, a Pumpkin Patch, and People Helping People…

We have been very fortunate to be able to travel to Disney World yearly and sometimes twice while for many Disney is only a dream. So for us it is no longer saving for our dream trip to Disney, staying deluxe and splurging all the way. It’s now one trip staying value/moderate and using all that is saved for a dream come true. This last trip in August we took two special kids with us. Their dream to go to Disney came true. My boys 5, and 13 gave up a lot of their “Disney extras”  and used that money to take two friends they felt should have their dream. My 5-year-old picked the little neighbor girl. She lives with her great grandma 95% of the time as dad is in jail and mom is busy doing her own thing. And my oldest picked his friend from school whose family struggles financially and had never been on any kind of vacation. Both my son and his friend have also been victims of bullying and that is another reason my son wanted to take Luke, “cause in Disney the hurt and pain goes away”  is what my son says. He says in Disney he feels normal. This last trip will be one we never forget. We all got a little taste of how Walt had to of felt when he saw all those smiling faces when Disney opened.

My husband, two boys and myself grew pumpkins this year on our farm. We have been selling pumpkins every Sunday since mid September to raise money for Tyler’s trip. We are also planning a fall festival to raise money. We have set up a fund page as well so those who can’t attend can still donate if they wish. http://www.gofundme.com/yfsyk

My family has learned so much from Tyler. Tyler at the age of 8 was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome after being misdiagnosed three times. The doctors said that if is parents wouldn’t have listened to their gut their son would have died in his sleep, because GBS was attacking his lungs. After a month in the hospital Tyler was left partially paralyzed from his toes up to his left eye. He had to learn to walk again, feed himself, dress himself, and learn to be a kid again! He was told he wouldn’t play sports and it would take at least a year to get back to where he was before GBS. Tyler fought to get out of his wheelchair and back on the field. 4 months after leaving the hospital Tyler played baseball and even made the All Stars! In the fall Tyler pushed himself further and played tackle football! Tyler and his family have come out of their darkest days swinging. Helping each and every person they come in contact with that is going through what they did. Whether it just be a shoulder to cry on, to helping make a dying boys final wish come true. In the heaviest down pour they don’t see the rain, they see the sun.

Tyler is no longer showing signs of GBS but it can resurface at anytime. He has and never will regain his reflexes, but Tyler is okay with that because as he says, “I already had the best day of my life, the day I walked again.”

Here is a link to a local newspaper article about our event http://www.thereviewnewspapers.com/

Tyler’s family has been overwhelmed by the love and support they have received. Because of Pumpkins for a Purpose, the Platt family has taken a leap as well and are starting their own foundation in Tyler’s honor, http://tylerplattfightstrong.com/. The mission of the foundation is to honor and reward children who have “Fought Strong” like Tyler did and grant them wishes whether a simple wish or a lifetime dream wish. It’s the foundations belief that a child who fights through a serious illness or injury should be rewarded for their courage and strength. We are teaming up with the foundation to help make our future dream trips come true.

You can follow Pumpkins for a Purpose on facebook http://www.facebook.com/events/469228226431462/.

Thank you so much for taking the time to hear and share our story.

Disney isn’t just a place to visit for us it’s a way of life and I can’t wait to see where this new journey takes us.

Amy Danko-Zorger