Our son, Daniel Pride, was diagnosed with and inoperable brain tumor at age 11. My husband, David, and I have 3 children: Dan is13, Elizabeth is10, Nick is 6.

It was thru Dan's St. Vincent oncologist that we were hooked up with the INDIANA CHILDREN’S WISH FUND. Julie Hauk, Wish Coordinator for the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund, contacted me and the wheels were quickly in motion to make Dan's wish happen.

We stayed at “Give Kids the World” Village and “Disneyed” all 4 parks. We had never been to Disney World before and I'm afraid we may never be able to return. This is the standard to which our children will measure all future trips and it could never be matched! We were treated like royalty! It was as if we were the only visitors in the park. It was a trip that we, as parents, could have never given our children! It gave us a chance to gather strength for the weeks of radiation ahead.

Having a child with a life threatening illness affects your life in ways you can never imagine. GOD IS MERCIFUL THIS WAY. People have asked me what has been the hardest part of all this…It's not the big things that get you. With the big stuff, the world literally stops and you deal only with that. It's the little things, the everyday things, the things you must weave into normal life that gets you. It’s the waiting. Your family’s life never really feels quite normal. Nine months post radiation; our lives continue to be driven by the tumor.
Indiana Children’s Wish Fund understands this, and just as I was told from the start, they are more than just a "wish". They have supported us in countless ways! They have called us to just see how we are doing. We have gone to a Colt's game, visited WIBC, and danced at the Indiana Roof Ballroom- all thanks to INDIANA CHILDREN’S WISH FUND. They are hope and happiness and joy in this daily swirl of dealing with Dan's health.

Winston Churchill said:
"WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET, WE MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT WE GIVE."
~ Laura Pride