Anthony is a happy and adventurous six-year-old boy who loves to make his family laugh. He lives with his parents, older brother Keith, and their cat “Princess” in Riverdale, Illinois. Anthony’s favorite color is blue. He loves to play with his Spiderman and Transformer toys and challenge his brother to Wii sports tournaments. Anthony also takes weekly piano lessons and is learning to sing.
When Anthony was 14 months old, he was diagnosed with severe hemophilia A, a blood disorder in which one of the proteins needed to form blood clots is missing or reduced. The condition leads to frequent spontaneous bleeding episodes, often into the joints and muscles. Today, Anthony receives a regimen of regular factor replacement treatments (a therapy called prophylaxis) to prevent bleeding episodes before they happen. Through it all, Anthony remains happy, upbeat, and daring – always excited for the next adventure.
When asked to wish BIG, Anthony wished to go to Disney World because he wanted to meet all the characters! Thanks to your generous support and the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois, Anthony’s wish was granted! After being escorted to the airport by a limousine, Anthony and his family were flown to sunny Florida where they checked in to their villa at Give Kids the World Village, a special resort designed for kids with medical conditions. From ice cream sundaes at the Gingerbread House to horseback riding and afternoons in the Wacky Waterworks pool, the resort was an event in itself! Anthony and his family also set out to explore the Disney parks. Anthony loved the fireworks at Magic Kingdom® and the “Toy Story Mania” ride at Hollywood Studios. The highlight of his trip was attending “Donald’s Safari Breakfast” at the Animal Kingdom, where he took photos and got autographs from his favorite characters. Anthony’s mom said, “This is the best thing Anthony has ever done! He was happier than I have ever seen him. This was such a wonderful blessing that was given to our family.” Thank you for making this unforgettable wish come true!
