Wishes come true for brothers

COEUR d'ALENE - Brothers David and Chance made a couple wishes.

Fourteen-year-old David wants to see Legoland and have a "master builder" experience. Twelve-year-old Chance wants to go behind the scenes in the San Diego Zoo.

Both are looking forward to checking out some farmers markets and maybe even plucking ripe California oranges right off the tree.

Those wishes shall be granted.

"It's kind of a way to dream about life," said Lee Anne Law, the boys' mom.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a key player in David and Chance's vacation, because the brothers have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a disabling genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. It's one of nine types of muscular dystrophy, which is caused by an absence of the protein "dystrophin." Bound to wheelchairs, the boys depend on their parents and six siblings for support and assistance.

All 10 family members are going to California.

"It takes all of us," Law said. "It wouldn't be as much fun without the whole family involved."

Since David and Chance require 24-hour care, they're home schooled, and it's not often they get out and about, although they did go to a zoo in Boise once. This trip is all about the boys.

"This is big, this is different," Law said. "It's designed around them."

The mother of eight said David and Chance are eager to fly as well as experience some things they've been dreaming about.

Like getting up close and personal with furry friends.

"They've always loved animals, every kind of animal," she said. She explained that Chance will have a personal tour involving koalas, but the zoo portion will be fun for everyone. She said the boys absorb facts they learn from watching nature shows and never cease to amaze her with their amount of knowledge.

The family will be leaving May 18 for an eight-day trip in California. David and Chance will receive a personalized "wish day," thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in association with Jewelers for Children and Fred Meyer Jewelers. Fred Meyer hosted a send-off party for the brothers Friday evening.

The Law family is the third family in Harrison to be Make-A-Wish recipients within the last few years. Law said it came as kind of a shock, and that it is almost unprecedented that Make-A-Wish would sponsor the whole family trip. It's something with which she is quite impressed.

"They've worked with us very closely and we feel that they've been very sensitive to our needs," she said. "As an organization, Make-A-Wish is pretty darn awesome."

Fred Meyer Jewelers has been associated with Jewelers For Children (JFC) since its founding in 1999. The organization has donated millions to programs benefitting children who have been affected by illness, abuse or neglect. JFC began working with Make-A-Wish in 1999. Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.