Make-A-Wish grants 5-year-old's dream

By Deneesha Edwards
The Dispatch

Who ever thought wishes did not come true, doesn't know 5-year-old Walker Fritts.


Walker, whose family lives in Reeds, was granted a wish to go to Walt Disney World to see his biggest inspiration — Mickey Mouse.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation announced Wednesday at a private party at Pizza Hut that Walker and his family — his parents, Marshana and Alan Fritts, his older brother Carson, 14, and younger sister Malan, 3 — will get the chance to visit the “happiest place on earth” in Florida.

“It's very overwhelming,” said Walker's mother, Marshana Fritts. “We're very lucky to have Walker and we're very lucky Make-A-Wish Foundation is going to send us on the trip. There's other kids that deserve this too.”

Make-A-Wish starting granting wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions in 1980. The organization grants the wishes of children to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

“This is a send-away party,” said Mary Finch, one of the foundation's grant wishers for the area. “Walker wants to see Mickey, so we're making this happen for him. We're just trying to create a happy moment. Everybody here has been instrumental in Walker's life.”

Walker is a special needs boy that was born with a genetic liver disease called Alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency. Walker, who also has Down syndrome, was born five weeks premature,

Fritts said Walker has eaten with a feeding tube for most of his life, however he can eat small food items like pizza and macaroni and cheese.


Fritts said there is no cure for the disease and Walker has been on the waiting list for getting a liver transplant since he was born. She calls him a “Brenner (Children's Hospital, in Winston-Salem) baby” because he's been in and out of the hospital throughout his life.

“It's an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “We have literally stood over his bed thinking this is his last breath. There are great days. The good days are really good. The bad days are really bad. He's happy, we know his life is going to be short.”

The family arrived with his family to the restaurant in a white limousine. Close family friends, church members, teachers and administrators from Reeds Elementary School cheered the family as they arrived to the restaurant. Walker is in the special needs pre-kindergarten program at Reeds.

“There's so many people that have helped with Walker,” Marshana Fritts said. “The Make-A-Wish Foundation does so much. There are so many kids that don't know if they'll be here for Christmas. Make-A-Wish is just a good organization.”

Mickey Mouse balloons and Make-A-Wish Foundation banners were decorated in a banquet room at Pizza Hut. There was pizza, face painting, a cake from Fancy Pastry Shop and, of course, a guest appearance from Mickey.

“We can't do this without people like Pizza Hut, they went above and beyond,” said Karen Dunlap, another wish granter for the area with the foundation. “Thank you to Pizza Hut, Fancy Pastry, At the Ritz Costume and Fantasy Limousine. We don't have a budget. We have to do it with people who are willing to help us.”

Dunlap said being a part of the foundation is a life-changing experience and the foundation is an awesome organization.

“Families go through a lot,” she said. “Just for one day or a week, we try to take all the pain away and make everyone smile and laugh.”

Lynn Conyers, the area general manager for NPC International Pizza Hut, presented the family with another surprise — free pizza for a year.

“We're honored to do this,” he said. “What a great cause and a great deal for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It's just a honor for us to be able to do this. Walker is such a special kid. The local Pizza Hut manager, Marcia Chatin, and her staff did all the hard work today. It's been a labor of love.”

Walker's mother said her son thinks he gets to go to see Mickey Mouse because he's able to eat without the feeding tube. He has many of Mickey Mouse's toys, clothes and shoes. Marshana Fritts said Walker wasn't able to walk until he was 4, and placing Mickey Mouse stickers on his walker encouraged him.

The family will stay at the “Give Kids the World Village” for a week. They also will have tickets to Disney World, Universal Studios and Sea World. A late breakfast was arranged for Walker to have with Mickey Mouse.

“I'm speechless,” said Judy Wood, Walker's grandmother. “This is more than magical. I can't even describe what it's been like for the family up until this point. This has been a joy for them.”