Make-A-Wish Foundation grants Dresden boy’s wish
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JACKSON, Tenn. — An 11-year-old from Dresden learned wishes really do come true. The young cancer patient thought he was just running errands with his parents, getting the oil changed in the family’s car. But the stop at Robinson Toyota in Jackson was actually a wish in the making. “I am kind of speechless. I’m shaking, if you look at my knees,” 11-year-old Gabe Parker said after learning his wish had been granted. Gabe said he’s always wanted to go to the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas. The Make-A-Wish Foundation made it a reality with the help of Robinson Toyota, which raised the money to fund a seven day all-inclusive trip for the family. “I saw it [the slide] on the commercial and I thought ‘that’s not that big of a slide,'” Gabe said. “Then I saw a picture and I was like, ‘it’s huge!'” Gabe is battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, but his family remains positive. “It is curable,” said Gabe’s father, Willie Parker. “It has a high curable rate on it.” “We were pretty positive through the whole thing that he was going to get over this,” Willie said. “We had to just — got to get through it.” Gabe was diagnosed back in February with the cancer that attacks the lymph nodes. “He did really, really well. He responded to the medicine well,” Willie said. Gabe has been dreaming of this trip ever since he saw pictures of Atlantis. “My sister looked at it and told me it looked awesome! I looked at it and my eyes popped! I knew that was the one. That’s where I’m going,” Gabe said. Gabe said he can’t wait to eat as much crab as he can. His parents said they’re grateful for everything the community has done. “The support from our family has been unreal. From our family, from our neighborhood, to the whole town,” Willie said. The family tells us they’re ready for this fun trip. They head out at the end of the month.
