Samuel is a bubbly and friendly 18-year-old boy who loves to play Nintendo. His favorite color is blue and his favorite TV show is The Simpsons. He also enjoys playing with toys and action figurines. He lives with his parents, three siblings and a house full of pets.
When Samuel was born, he was diagnosed with prune belly syndrome. His current height of 4’7” is about as tall as Samuel will grow and his stomach never formed properly. In 1996, he received a kidney transplant, but unfortunately his body rejected it. Samuel is currently awaiting another kidney transplant. Despite his daily hardships, Samuel remains friendly and is a smart boy; he loves doing well in school.
When asked to wish BIG, Samuel wished for a trip to Orlando with his family. Thanks to the generous support of the Slay-A-Thon, Samuel’s wish was granted! Samuel and his family escaped the Chicago cold and spent a week in sunny Florida. Samuel received the royal treatment – from limousine rides to & from the airport, to front-of-the-line passes and a private villa at Give the Kids the World Village, a magical resort for kids with medical conditions. Samuel was thrilled to have ice cream sundaes for breakfast at the Gingerbread House. The family spent every minute exploring the fun of Walt Disney World. They saw the dolphin show at SeaWorld, met the cast of Star Wars, and walked on to the set of the ‘American Idol Experience’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It was an amazing vacation that Samuel and his family will never forget. Thank you for making his wish come true!
