| If like me you are a fan of the hit TV show | | | | was to drive one of those boats near his birthplace in |
| Medium,that is based on the life of real life medium | | | | Duluth. |
| Alison DuBois, and portrayed by actress Patricia | | | | |
| Arquette. What you may not know is that Alison | | | | Angela King-Jones, wish coordinator for the chapter, |
| DuBois also enjoys supporting her favorite | | | | called Duluth's mayor to ask permission to grant |
| charities.And that two of her favourite charities are | | | | Elliot's wish. The story immediately caught the |
| the Make a Wish Foundation and the Humane | | | | community's imagination. The mayor was happy to |
| Society, as she loves children and animals.Below are | | | | help, and the staff came up with creative ways to |
| two examples of some of the Make a wish | | | | fulfill and enhance the boy's wish. "The community |
| foundation`s work from their website. | | | | really rallied around Elliot and his family," King-Jones |
| | | | | said. "The mayor granted special permission for Elliot |
| DREAM COME TRUE-NUMBER ONE | | | | to blow the horn at the lift bridge." |
| For Tiffany, 6, a Make-A-Wish® experience was a | | | | Elliot and his family boarded the tour boat Vista Star. |
| much-needed relief from the day-to-day challenges | | | | Captain Chris, who they knew from previous |
| of recovering from leukemia. | | | | excursions, gave them a warm greeting. He and his |
| "She went eight days chemo-free," said her mother, | | | | crew gave Elliot the VIP treatment and presented |
| Renee. "No needles, no pokes, no treatments ... it | | | | him with his own captain's hat. And the captain let |
| was freedom!" | | | | Elliot sound the horn requesting the bridge lift. Under |
| Nearly two years into her chemotherapy treatments | | | | the captain's supervision, Elliot piloted the ship past |
| and with one year still left, Tiffany was ready for | | | | the bridge. Everyone celebrated with a pizza party |
| such a break. She enjoyed those carefree days on | | | | aboard the Vista Star. |
| the Royal Caribbean International ship Serenade of | | | | Bring on the Noise |
| the Seas, which sailed to Alaska, her mother's | | | | At the massive Aerial Lift Bridge (one of Elliot's |
| birthplace. | | | | favorite maritime attractions), Elliot climbed into the |
| Tiffany packed comfortable clothes, raingear, | | | | control booth where bridge Supervisor Ryan Beamer |
| binoculars and a camera to document her wish | | | | let him push the big black button as many times as |
| experience. She and her family set sail to see | | | | he wanted. The blasts startled tourists, commuters |
| amazing sights: vast landscapes, majestic | | | | and seagulls out of their daily routines. With every |
| mountainsides and amazing wildlife. | | | | blast of the horn, Elliot's smile got even wider. |
| "She loves whales and water," Renee said. | | | | Many Duluth residents already knew what was |
| Viewing glaciers, sea lions, and humpback whales was | | | | happening - the local media had written about his |
| just the beginning of Tiffany's happy adventure. | | | | unusual wish. So every blast of the horn gave them a |
| Serenade of the Seas also stopped in Vancouver, | | | | reason to smile, too. |
| B.C., where Tiffany and her family enjoyed Stanley | | | | Thanks for the Memories |
| Park and other tourist attractions. When not exploring | | | | Sara and Aron, Elliot's parents, were thrilled with the |
| land, the family kept themselves busy with an | | | | warm reception the family experienced in Duluth. Part |
| endless list of shipboard activities. | | | | of Elliot's wish included staying at the South Pier Inn |
| "She loves to cook, and she got to cook with the | | | | so he could have an up-close view of the ships |
| chef," Renee said. "They gave her the experience of | | | | passing under the bridge. "So many people helped us |
| a lifetime that she will never forget, and we are truly | | | | to be present during our trip and to spend time as a |
| thankful." | | | | family … and to make Elliot's trip such a magical |
| DREAM COME TRUE-NUMBER TWO | | | | time," they wrote in a thank-you letter published in |
| There is always one place that can raise Elliot's spirits: | | | | the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. |
| Duluth, Minnesota. After he was diagnosed with | | | | Elliot also rode in the locomotive of a train, visited |
| leukemia when he was 2 ½ years old, Elliot's | | | | local landmarks including the Duluth Children's Museum |
| parents would take him to Duluth's Canal Park near | | | | and Great Lakes Aquarium, and enjoyed a meal at |
| the shore of Lake Superior. Watching the boats and | | | | the New Scenic Café. |
| the lift bridges was always a respite from his | | | | Elliot is now in a three-year maintenance phase of |
| debilitating chemotherapy treatments. | | | | treatment and is doing very well, according to his |
| Though Elliot and his family moved away, he never | | | | parents. |
| forgot those happy moments watching ships and | | | | You can visit the website to read more |
| hearing the sounds of horns blaring over the water. | | | | heart-warming stories,or to make a donation to help |
| He told volunteers from the Make-A-Wish | | | | some of the children the Make a Wish Foundation |
| Foundation® of Minnesota that his fondest wish | | | | helps, with people`s generous donations below. |