Not so long ago in a living room not so far away, a great transformation took place.
At the center of this transformation were two movie-loving wish kids, 10-year-old Chandler and 13-year-old Tyler. The two boys, who both have the Duchenne type of muscular dystrophy, wished for a room in their home to be turned into the ultimate home theater.
Volunteers from the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Arizona took their cue, starting work on what was an ordinary living room. Like the crew of a blockbuster movie making over a sound stage into the surface of a distant planet, they worked hard to make it match Chandler and Tyler’s vision.
That meant more than just installing a big-screen TV. Wish granters Nicole, Sara and Greg teamed up with Barbara, an interior designer, to turn the room into a high-tech theater that blended the elegance of a classic movie house with the high-def sounds and graphics of a modern megaplex.
The team started by creating that darkened-theater feel with a coat of eggplant paint, ensuring that they could keep unwanted glare under control. Scarlet drapes and sconces lend the old-fashioned theater vibe, while authentic high-back movie chairs ensure Chandler and Tyler can recline in style – without any chance of a tall person sitting in front. Posters from their favorite movies decorate the walls, adding a box-office touch.
A surround-sound audio system enables the brothers can to hear every clash of the lightsabers, every flash of Jack Black’s wit and every crash of Will Farrell falling into trouble. And the 61-inch, high-definition TV screen allows them to see the smallest details during a Harry Potter quidditch match.
Not only do the boys enjoy great movies in their new theater, but it also doubles as a video game room. They play their favorite games on the huge screen when they’re not watching the latest DVD in their collection.
The home theater is already bringing entertainment to the whole family, and it has also given Chandler and Tyler’s parents a chance to see their boys laughing, cheering and smiling. As wish-granting volunteers prepared to leave the theater room’s grand opening party, the boys' mom offered her heartfelt thanks. “With Everything Chandler and Tyler are dealing with, this (wish) just makes it so much easier,” she said.
This page can be found at http://www.wish.org/stories/fantasy/decorating_and_remodeling/chandler_and_tyler_s_theater
©2006 Make-A-Wish Foundation®