Community volunteers unite to grant a wish

At eight years old, Jericho and his family shared a wish: the wish for the young boy to be able to walk. With help from the Wishing Star Foundation, two local volunteers granted the wish last month.

Jericho was born with a rare brain disorder called lissencephaly, otherwise known as “smooth brain.” The disorder causes seizures and for the young boy to be unable to speak or walk unassisted.

While Jericho has a difficult time communicating with others, his mother Jackie understands him perfectly and reached out for assistance in providing her son with an opportunity to walk.

The Wishing Star Foundation granted the wish, providing Jackie with a device known as an Upsee Walking Show Kit, which allows her to strap Jericho to her. The Upsee allows Jackie to walk while providing Jericho with the feeling of the movement.

The wish and dream of helping Jericho walk was assisted through the efforts of two local volunteers: Theresa Fitch and Ronna Galbreath.

The duo of dedicated women serve in a role known as wish conductors, and assist local families with granting a wish for their child with life-threatening diseases.

Fitch and Galbreath have been working with Jericho’s family for nearly two years and the needs of the family were evident. The women explained they serve as local contacts for the family and for the organization to determine the family’s needs and assist whenever possible.

Their friend, Paula Norman, who previously served as the area wish conductor, approached the two women about the possibility of volunteering in the role and they both readily accepted.

“Paula came to see me about volunteering and working with children, and I agreed,” Galbreath said. “Those things are near to my heart.”

Fitch agreed, and said the opportunity has been rewarding not only for the family, but also for the two women. It has helped them gain realization of how many ways they can help others and become more involved in the community.

“I think I’m at that age where I realize I get so much joy out of helping,” Fitch added. “We have a passion for the families, and we’re honored to be chosen to help.”

Over the course of the two years, Fitch and Galbreath have served as a support system, visiting the family occasionally and providing them with small gifts to help them. During this visits, the women witnessed the ultimate dedication Jackie has to her children and wanted to continue to work to help the family.

The Wishing Star Foundation focuses on providing “wish kids” with happiness and refocusing on the joy of life, even during the difficulty. Wish Coordinator Veronica Smart is assigned to the surrounding region and travels meeting the families in need, before beginning a priority list of the needs and wishes of the child.

While Jericho’s family has the main wish granted, Galbreath and Fitch are determined to provide the family with additional assistance to help make daily life more manageable. With this goal, the duo is asking local community members to assist in granting a wish solely through local efforts.

The women explained they are hoping to purchase a wheelchair that is designed for children like Jericho. The estimated cost for the purchase is over $1,500.

With the goal in mind, the two ladies teamed up with other local volunteers and Miss Star was born. Miss Star is a mannequin who will be placed in a local’s yard, and that individual must pay to have her removed or placed in a friend’s yard. There is also an option to pay so Miss Star is not placed in the yard.

Throughout the past month, Miss Star has made appearances at Cow Creek Mercantile and the Wheat Land Communities’ Fair. The goal is to be able to host another party for Jericho’s family and this time to celebrate providing him with his own mobility.

In the meantime, the family is focusing on building up Jericho’s strength in order to be able to use the Upsee on day trips or other outings. Fitch and Galbreath said they hope to remain involved and in contact with the family in order to continue to support and also watch Jericho’s growth.

For more information about how to place Miss Star in a yard or to make a donation, visit Cow Creek.