Neat Tearful Local Story...
Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 11:32 am
Students Sending Mother and Son to Disneyworld
By Jerry Burke (WBAY)
North Fond du Lac: A young mother with terminal cancer has reason to smile tonight for the first time in 15 months. Jodi Llewellyn's six-year-old son has one wish before she dies, to take a trip together to a magical place. Students at Horace Mann High School in North Fond du Lac are making that wish come true.
Jodi was diagnosed with terminal cancer the day her son, Gunner, started kindergarten 15 months ago. "He knows everything that's going on. And he just right away started saying he'd see the commercials on TV for Disney, and he'd say, 'Mom, I want to go there with you before you die.'"
Now? "Now we're going to go."
They're going thanks to a "penny war" waged at Horace Mann High School. The students, many who know Gunner, heard about his mom and made it their mission to get them to Disneyworld.
Tuesday morning, that mission was accomplished.
"They thought of it, if this was me, they would really like that chance to do that last thing with their mother before she died," student council president Kristin Sarauer said.
Gunner hopes he and his mom see some familiar faces: "Mickey and Minnie and Goofy and Pluto!"
Jodi said without what the students did here, there's no way she could have afforded to make her son's dream come true.
"I wish I had the words to say thank you to all of you for everything you've done for us," Jodi said.
Kristin said, "I started crying during the presentation today and I think a lot of students I was sitting around felt the same way as I did."
Jodi and her son leave for Disneyworld Friday. Businesses have also donated transportation and tickets to nearby Sea World.
By Jerry Burke (WBAY)
North Fond du Lac: A young mother with terminal cancer has reason to smile tonight for the first time in 15 months. Jodi Llewellyn's six-year-old son has one wish before she dies, to take a trip together to a magical place. Students at Horace Mann High School in North Fond du Lac are making that wish come true.
Jodi was diagnosed with terminal cancer the day her son, Gunner, started kindergarten 15 months ago. "He knows everything that's going on. And he just right away started saying he'd see the commercials on TV for Disney, and he'd say, 'Mom, I want to go there with you before you die.'"
Now? "Now we're going to go."
They're going thanks to a "penny war" waged at Horace Mann High School. The students, many who know Gunner, heard about his mom and made it their mission to get them to Disneyworld.
Tuesday morning, that mission was accomplished.
"They thought of it, if this was me, they would really like that chance to do that last thing with their mother before she died," student council president Kristin Sarauer said.
Gunner hopes he and his mom see some familiar faces: "Mickey and Minnie and Goofy and Pluto!"
Jodi said without what the students did here, there's no way she could have afforded to make her son's dream come true.
"I wish I had the words to say thank you to all of you for everything you've done for us," Jodi said.
Kristin said, "I started crying during the presentation today and I think a lot of students I was sitting around felt the same way as I did."
Jodi and her son leave for Disneyworld Friday. Businesses have also donated transportation and tickets to nearby Sea World.
