Drew Winebarger had no idea what was happening when a shiny white fire truck pulled up in front of her Genoa home.
When the firefighters came to the door to invite her for a ride in the white Nevada Division of Forestry engine, it was like a wish had come true for the 3-year-old girl.
In fact, that was exactly what was going on. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northern Nevada had arranged for Drew to get the fire-truck ride she'd always wanted, as well as a party at Applebee's in Carson City and a shopping spree at Wal-Mart.
Drew was born with spina bifida, a congenital defect in which the tunnel that houses her spinal chord and brain did not close properly in the womb, her mother, Tobi Pilgrim, explained. Drew has had seven surgeries, including some to install shunts that drain excess brain fluid and that help correct a bladder defect that damaged her kidneys.
Make-A-Wish, now 20 years old, had granted such wishes for more than 73,000 children with potentially fatal medical conditions.
After the luncheon party at Applebee's, Drew was taken to Wal-Mart for a $1,000 shopping spree.
"Her first selection was a baseball and bat," said Kathleen Taylor, a volunteer from Minden who is one of what Make-A-Wish calls "Wishbringers."
"She picked out a bicycle, videos like 'Winnie the Pooh,' bubbles, headbands, CDs, barrettes, a playhouse and a very purple feather boa," Taylor said.
"Jennifer Harris, our respite care nurse from Eagle Valley Children's Home, nominated Drew," Tobi explained. She said the only financial assistance Drew receives is through a special Medicare program for severely disabled children, which pays for the respite care.
"I provide most of her care myself. I took classes to learn how," Tobi said. Because of the availability of the respite care, Tobi is now attending nursing school and will become a nurse herself.
Drew is practicing to be a flower girl at Tobi's October wedding to Yves Gigot, co-owner of the Pink House restaurant in Genoa.
The foundation's activities are supported by donations from a variety of individuals and organizations. Wishbringer Terry Haggerty said students at Carson High School have raised $17,000 for the Northern Nevada chapter.
For more information:
visit: http://www.wish.org/
or call: 775-826-8008
