I wish to go on a coastal road trip to San Francisco
Juan Pablo
6
nervous system disorder
Juan Pablo's Wish to go on a coastal road trip to San Francisco
A memorable coastal road trip to the Golden Gate Bridge
Juan Pablo was an active little boy, walking by the time he was one. He would run around in his room, play with his toys, and take trips to the local library with his mom. A month after his second birthday, his mom noticed that he became very unbalanced while sitting on the bed, he would fall suddenly and cry in pain. His mom took him to the hospital to try to find out what was happening to Juan Pablo. As Juan Pablo’s difficult medical journey began, he had to be intubated to help him breathe. He spent a month in the hospital while doctors ran tests to determine the cause of his condition. At one point Juan Pablo’s heart stopped for a minute and it was an exceedingly tough time for his parents. They eventually found out that Juan Pablo had acute transverse myelitis which is a nervous system disorder.
For Juan’s parents, it was so hard to come to terms with the drastic change. His bedroom, which was once a playroom, completely changed when he was diagnosed and had to be adjusted to his medical needs including adding a hospital bed. Juan Pablo had to change how he navigated the world. Once he was home, he received visits from different medical teams every three days. During one of these visits, his social worker mentioned to his mom about Make-A-Wish and how Juan Pablo could be referred for a wish and with that, they began his wish process.
Juan Pablo wished to go on a coastal road trip to San Francisco, inspired by fond memories of beach visits and a desire to see the Golden Gate Bridge. Recalling prior road trips with his parents, he wished to relive the experience on a journey to San Francisco. Make-A-Wish rented a van that was wheelchair accessible, and they loaded up and hit the road. Their first stop was in Santa Barbara where they stayed two nights and visited the local zoo and museum. Juan Pablo was so excited to be out exploring and was thrilled he had his own bed in the hotel. Then they went to Monterey Bay and visited the aquarium! After staying a night, they headed to the Bay Area.
While in San Francisco, they explored Pier 39 and various attractions such as the aquarium and science museum using their city pass. Juan Pablo also enjoyed a boat ride, offering him his first glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. Later, he fulfilled a long-time wish by driving across the iconic bridge, making it a truly memorable day. He was so excited to see it and thought it looked beautiful! Juan Pablo and his parents enjoyed their time at all their stops and exploring places they had never visited.
Since his wish, Juan Pablo is ready for his next adventure. He has fond memories of his trip and even has a San Francisco trolly plushie on his bed. His parents will always remember him saying that he was so happy. He would sing during their drive, and they loved seeing him have new experiences. They were able to make memories as a family and enjoy their time together. Juan Pablo is hoping to go back in the future to see more of San Francisco and of course the Golden Gate Bridge.