Bleacher Report - Articles by Madeline Robinson

Bruce Gets Up Close and Personal With His Hero, John Cena

Madeline Robinson — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:30:40 -0400

SUITLAND, Md. – With a little help from Kids Wish Network, 6-year-old Bruce, who suffers from Hemophilia, had his wish to meet WWE Superstar John Cena granted.

There is nothing that could make a child happier than meeting his or her hero, but for a spunky little sports fan named Bruce, his excitement overflowed when he met his hero and was even a celebrity for almost a whole week.

It all started with a conversation between a nurse and Bruce’s mother, Natasha, about Kids Wish Network, an organization that grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.

You see, Bruce has Type A Hemophilia. This is an inherited blood disorder that causes a lack of clotting, which leads to severe, almost constant bleeding. Bruce has to deal with breakthrough bleeds for which he is then hospitalized, even though he is on various medications to try to prevent this.

When Natasha called Kids Wish Network, she was surprised to find that they were more than willing to help her little guy. After the initial call, it wasn’t long before Bruce was telling Wish Coordinator Jill all about his wish to meet his favorite WWE Superstar, John Cena.

With the help of Wish Funding Specialist Doris and some outstanding sponsors, Jill organized a wish that would make Bruce feel like the world revolved around him for almost a whole week. Starting with a limo ride to take Bruce to his meeting with John Cena prior to watching a WWE Raw wrestling match, Jill also arranged for Bruce and his family to enjoy seats at a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game and even dinners at the Hard Rock Café, Houlihan’s and the Beechwood Bistro!

“He had a ball…we all had a ball,” said Natasha of her son’s wish trip. “He really enjoyed it. Everything was fantastic.”

Though Bruce enjoyed the Cardinals game and really had a blast playing 3D Glow Golf in St. Louis, his favorite part of the whole trip was definitely meeting John Cena at the WWE Raw match, though the limo ride was a close second.

“We weren’t expecting that,” said Natasha of the limousine that would take them to the Scottrade Center to bring Bruce face to face with his hero. “He really felt like a celebrity. He didn’t know what to do when he saw the limo…he was jumping all around!”

Once at the Scottrade Center, it was time to meet John Cena.

“When John Cena walked in the room, he [Bruce] was almost hyperventilating,” said Natasha. “He was really nervous at first, but John Cena was very down to Earth. He made Bruce feel comfortable…he gave him a shirt, hat and wristbands. Bruce wore them all night!”

There was nothing more that Bruce could have asked for, but the excitement wasn’t over. After meeting John Cena, it was time to watch him live in the ring. “I don’t think Bruce paid attention to me at all [at the match],” said Natasha. “We were three rows from the ring. It was great for him.”

When it was time for Bruce and his family to pack up and go home, he definitely didn’t want to leave. Of course, now that he’s back home, he won’t stop talking about his meeting with John Cena. He even can’t wait for school to start, just so he can tell everyone about what he got to do in the past week.

“He’ll remember it for the rest of his life,” said Natasha. “It was really a dream come true. It was much more than we ever expected. Thank you.”

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Bruce’s wish extra special: The National Black Police Association, the WWE, John Cena, Hard Rock Café St. Louis, St. Louis Transportation, Galactic Glow Putt Putt, Airtran Airways, Residence Inn by Marriott, JED Limousine, the St. Louis Cardinals, Houlihan’s, Beechwood Bistro and the Best Transportation of St. Louis.

Kids Wish Network is a nationally recognized non-profit organization dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children. If you know a child between the ages of 3 and 18 who may be in need of its wish granting services, please call 727-937-3600 or toll free 888-918-9004. For more information on Kids Wish Network, visit their website at www.kidswishnetwork.org

Luis' Engine Is Still “Revved” After Meeting Ricky Carmichael

Madeline Robinson — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:04:11 -0400

HOUSTON, Texas—A little boy facing a life-threatening illness enjoyed the wish of his life meeting NASCAR driver, Ricky Carmichael, through Kids Wish Network.

One of eight-year-old Luis’ favorite things to do is to watch motorcycles and NASCAR races on television. When a Kids Wish Network professional fundraiser called Luis’ mother, Miryam, she had no idea that this one phone call would bring the excitement of racing right to her amazing little boy.

At eighteen months old, Luis was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy. SMA is a motor neuron disease that affects all of the muscles in the body. Just last year, Luis suffered through two surgeries for muscle weakness. He is also confined to a wheelchair, needs constant assistance, and must endure frequent breathing treatments.

Once Miryam told the Kids Wish Network representative about her little boy and his situation, it didn’t take long for them to get Wish Coordinator, Jen, and Wish Funding Specialist, Doris, on the case. While Luis told Jen about his wish to meet his racing hero, Carmichael, Doris was speaking to some very special sponsors about making the little boy’s dream come true.

When it came time for his wish to be granted, Jen arranged not just the meeting with his favorite NASCAR driver, but also an entire weekend of high-octane racing fun for Luis and his family!

The timing for Luis’ wish couldn’t have been better; only a week following his eighth birthday, Luis got to meet his hero, Ricky Carmichael, prior to watching him compete in a race at the Texas Motor Speedway! “It was the perfect birthday present,” said Miryam. “He was very excited and really happy.”

Once Luis and his family arrived at the track, they were escorted all around the garage areas where Luis marveled at all of the cars, drivers, and pit crews. He was truly thrilled, but even this excitement was overshadowed when he finally met Ricky Carmichael.

The famous driver spent some quality one-on-one time with the little boy, talking to him, signing autographs and just enjoying Luis’ company. They even exchanged gifts! Ricky presented a very special cap and t-shirt to Luis, who, in turn, gave the driver a mini digital picture frame with a few pictures to remember him by and some handmade beaded gifts with both of their names on them.

It was the handmade gifts that pleased the famous driver the most. “It’s a good day for me,” Ricky exclaimed as he was given his present. No one had done anything like that for him before!

Luis met up with Ricky again before attending the exclusive pre-race drivers’ meeting, where Luis witnessed all the ins and outs of getting ready for a big race. It was a really special addition to an already fantastic weekend, and it wasn’t even over yet!

During the big NCWTS Winstar World Casino 400 race, Luis cheered the hardest he had ever cheered for Ricky Carmichael. It was almost as though Ricky was racing just for him. “I was so happy because he was so happy,” said Miryam of her little boy. “He [Luis] was just amazed to see him in the race.”

At the end of the weekend, after yet another day at the track watching Indy Car racing, Luis did not want to leave. “He didn’t want to come back,” said Miryam. “He said, ‘Mom, can we stay just one more day?’”

Now that they’re home, Luis has been telling as many people as he can about his wish trip. Miryam said that Luis “told one of the doctors and was showing off his [signed] hat…he’s still excited!” Luis’ meeting with his NASCAR idol is something that will keep him in high spirits for years to come, and that’s all Jen and everyone else at Kids Wish Network could ask for.

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Luis’ wish extra special: Ricky Carmichael, VFW 8905 Thompson-Patton Post, Baylor College of Medicine Medical Student Council, The Texas Motor Speedway, The Hilton Southlake Town Square, and The Cheesecake Factory.

Mikey Meets NASCAR Hero, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Thanks To Kids Wish Network

Madeline Robinson — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:01:37 -0400

At about four months old, baby Mikey showed the most interest in NASCAR races on television, following every turn with his eyes and gurgling with delight as the cars raced around the track. At the age of one, the precocious little boy was given his very first toy car, a miniature of Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s vehicle at the time. Since then, Mikey’s love of NASCAR racing has only grown; in his four years, nothing has diminished this passion, not even his condition.

You see, when Mikey was born, doctors informed his parents that their little boy suffered from a serious medical condition called VATERL Syndrome, which is a term that describes a variety of problems related to a child’s vertebral, cardiac, trachea/esophageal and renal systems, and affect their limbs. As part of this condition, Mikey was born with Blue Baby Syndrome, and as the name suggests, Mikey’s heart did not function properly resulting in very low blood oxygen levels. As an infant, Mikey underwent a large intestine resection, and at just four months old he endured open-heart surgery. He was also born without a left thumb or the forearm bone that leads to it.

A phone call from a Kids Wish Network professional fundraiser gave Mikey’s parents the information they needed to pave the road to having their little boy’s wish granted. After the initial call, “it all went so quickly,” said Mikey’s mother, Angela. Soon after that, Mikey was given his very own Wish Coordinator, named Madeline, who was going to make Mikey’s dream of meeting his favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., come true. With the help of Wish Funding Specialist, Donna, and some truly outstanding sponsors, Madeline organized a racing vacation to top all others which included not only the meeting with Mr. Earnhardt, but tickets to the NASCAR race for Mikey and his family, a trip to the pits, tickets to Ripley’s Aquarium and much, much more!

Their first couple of days in South Carolina were full of outstanding hospitality and a bunch of great experiences for Mikey and his family. When they opened the door of their suite at The Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and Spa at Grand Dunes, they were in awe of the spectacular oceanfront view from their room. That night, Mikey and his family were treated to a fantastic dinner at Planet Hollywood. Dinner the next day was at Joe’s Crab Shack, where their waiter, Brian, and the rest of the staff regaled Mikey with a boisterous rendition of the theme song to his favorite show, “Spongebob Squarepants.” According to Angela, Brian “went the extra mile and he didn’t have to do that. It is amazing that the people were so nice. It made us feel so welcome. We’ve never felt that before.”

Though their first two days were awesome beyond belief, it was their third day in South Carolinathat was truly “the big one” for little Mikey. “The whole thing was just out of this world,” said Angela. “Mikey knew that he was special before all this, but it all really showed him how wonderful he really is.” For Mikey, being a VIP at the NASCAR SpeedPark in South Carolinawas “just something else!” Through the outrageous generosity of Go Daddy.com, Mikey was given tickets to the big race and got to hang out in the special hospitality tent. There he met with WWE wrestling diva and “Go Daddy Girl”, Candice Michelle, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s teammate, Brad Keselowski, and he was the only child to have the privilege of sitting in one of Dale Jr.’s racecars. Mikey even got to take a guided tour of the pits where he witnessed the fast-paced action of the NASCAR world firsthand!

Of course, out of everything that Mikey experienced at the track, his favorite part of the trip was meeting the man himself, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Though he had lots to say to Dale Jr. beforehand, upon meeting him, Mikey was tongue-tied at first and just kept handing Mr. Earnhardt items, including a wooden car that he had made for Dale Jr., and things to autograph. By the end of the meeting however, Mikey overcame his fears and dashed after the famous driver as he got up to leave, grabbed Dale Jr. by the leg and gave him a big hug, proclaiming, “I love you, Junior!” This prompted a warm smile to light upon Mr. Earnhardt’s face as he reached down to pat the enthusiastic little boy on the back. “I love you too, buddy,” he said. It was truly an experience that Mikey and his family will never forget.

After meeting his hero, Mikey and his family watched the race, where he cheered his favorite driver on and was thrilled to witness the real-life speed of the racecars. “Once the cars got going, Mikey just yelled, ‘They’re going so fast! They’re going 60 miles an hour!’ He made everyone laugh,” said Angela. “I’ve never seen him smile like that…it was the time of his life. He was on cloud nine the whole time!”

Now that he’s back home, Mikey resides in a dream, re-living his racing experiences with the souvenirs and pictures that he brought home with him. “Everything has been so wonderful for him. That you all [at Kids Wish Network] want to give something like that to a little kid is just amazing.” According to his mother, Mikey attributes all that has happened to his Wish Coordinator, Madeline, and to his “Guardian Angel,” Camille, from the Dale Junior Foundation. About his Wish Coordinator, Mikey even said during his wish that “she’s making my dreams come true!” “Thank you for giving us all something we’ll never forget,” said Mikey’s mom. “We were in paradise.”

Kids Wish Network would like to thank the following for helping to make Mikey’s wish extra special: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Go Daddy.com, NASCAR SpeedPark, American Legion Post 675, The Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and Spa at Grand Dunes, Ripley’s Aquarium, Joe’s Crab Shack, Planet Hollywood and Thrifty Car Rental.