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| Local boy receives travel trailer through Make-A-Wish |
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8/10/2018
By Tom Marshall
Senior Advocate writer
Six-year-old Jack Wells thinks he will like camping. He’s about to find out.
This past week Wells received a 31-foot Shasta travel trailer from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children with a critical illness.
Jack’s parents, Brandon and Jenny Wells of Mt. Sterling, brought home the trailer from Indianapolis, Ind., July 30.
Jack has a congenital heart defect known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
He was put on the list to receive a wish from the foundation a couple of years ago and had initially asked for a Disney Cruise before abruptly changing his mind a few months ago.
His parents suspect Jack developed a curiosity about camping from a video game he likes.
“I guess that’s where he got the idea because he’s never been camping and neither have Jenny and I since we’ve had kids,” Brandon said.
The Wells family, which also includes daughter Maddie, 8, were all set to go on the Disney Cruise earlier this year when Jack had his change of heart. They had already spent $530 on passports when Jack told his parents of his new wish.
The couple contacted the foundation, which said it wouldn’t be a problem. Within a few weeks they were notified where they could pick up their travel trailer.
Fortunately, Brandon has a truck that can accommodate the trailer. Just getting it home was an adventure, he said.
Not only was Brandon trying to traverse an unfamiliar large city in Indianapolis and I-275 in northern Kentucky, but he was trying to do so with no experience pulling a travel trailer in a rainstorm.
“It was nerve wracking,” Brandon said.
He said Jack was helpful in telling him periodically on the ride home that the trailer was still there.
“Thanks little buddy,” Brandon told him.
The parents said the two children have been playing in the trailer ever since they got it home. They’ve even planned their first “camp out” this weekend.
While the trailer won’t leave the driveway of their home on Nevada Avenue, the family will be using it for the camping experience. They may use a fire pit behind the house to make smores, Jenny said. She said Jack has told her to pack his fishing pole just in case.
“It’s like a big, ginormous playhouse in the driveway,” Jenny said. And Jack couldn’t be more excited,” she said. “He loves it.”
The family does plan to formally christen the new travel trailer next month, when they will take it to Cave Run for an outing to celebrate Maddie’s birthday.
“It’s going to be a fun, learning experience,” Brandon said of the upcoming adventure.
Because Maddie is getting some of the extra attention associated with the travel trailer, there hasn’t been much in the way of jealousy, Jenny said.
The parents say they are thankful to everyone at Make-A-Wish for the love they have shown them.
“They have went above and beyond to exceed our expectations to receive anything ... ” Jenny said. “It’s amazing to see them so happy.”
Brandon said as a family they try to pay it forward by allowing Jack to serve as an ambassador for the University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital and participate in fundraisers for Children’s Miracle Network. An event in Dayton, Ohio, this past June raised $2.5 million.
Jack also participated in Make-A-Wish Day last fall at Keeneland Race Course.
“We try to give back on our end, but we are very grateful for what they have done for Jack as far as Make-A-Wish is concerned,” Brandon said.
Despite a complete heart repair surgery at 13 months old, Jack has made a miraculous recovery and is leading an otherwise normal childhood.
His mother said Jack recently had his feeding tube taken out, which had been in place since he was 6 months old. Doctors also say his heart is doing well, she said.
Jack attended kindergarten this past year.
“He’s just typical boy,” she said. “He’s doing better than we ever thought he would.”
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