Make-A-Wish for a Local Area Teen Battling a Brain Tumor – March 2011

The SWIL Buffalo Soldiers teamed up with the Scott AFB Tuskegee Airman, Inc. Chapter and students from Southwest Illinois College to make a wish come true for Juan Ortiz, a Fairmont city teen who is battling a brain tumor and epilepsy.  When asked to dream big Juan said that he wanted his bedroom redecorated.  I would be remiss in not stating that Mr. & Mrs. Vic Dorsey and Mr. Todd Lange were the Make-A-Wish volunteers who coordinated with individual, corporate and community sponsors to make this all possible.   The team stopped by Juan’s house to hear what he wanted to do to his room.  After gathering all of his wishes they set out to get everything.  Juan was scheduled to attend the 5th Annual Walk for Wishes event at St. Clair Square in Fairview Heights on Saturday, March 12th.  He and his mother and siblings were picked up in a limo and taken to the mall for the event and out to dinner.  While they were away the team went in to action.  His dad stayed at the house and removed all the old furniture from his room and then the team painted the room in his favorite colors, hung new blinds and curtains, brought in a new bed, desk and chair, a flat screen TV, and X-Box 360, a personal refrigerator, ceiling fan and some of Juan’s own art work.  Just as we fished, the limo returned and we surprised Juan with his WISH.  You can tell by the photos that he was very surprised and happy.

To check out this story on the Scott Air Force Base website: CLICK HERE