Make-A-Wish Foundation grants a wish to a young girl suffering from a seizure disorder

Mackenzie Snyder is looking forward to seeing the "horsies" at Walt Disney World.

The 8-year-old was chosen to travel to Walt Disney World through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
"She likes carousels. We're all very excited," her mother, Shelly Snyder, said.

Mackenzie is looking forward to riding the horses on the carousel, and she wants to see Cinderella. "We saw 'Disney on Ice' yesterday, and she liked Mickey Mouse," Ms. Snyder said.
Mackenzie was born with fluid on the brain and cerebral palsy. When she was one year old, she had her first seizure.

Mackenzie, whom the family calls Kenzie, was nominated for a wish by Brenda Szumgraji, her nurse's supervisor. Cindy Hively is the nurse who works with Kenzie, a second-grader, at White Deer Elementary School.

A couple of weeks ago, Make-A-Wish Foundation volunteer Nancy Weigle of Pottsville traveled to the Snyders' New Columbia area home to sign them up for the trip they plan to take in May.

"We will be staying at the Gingerbread House of Give Kids the World," said Ms. Snyder. She explained that the Gingerbread House is a resort hotel with medical equipment, special beds and a kitchen to provide special diets such as Kenzie requires.

Kenzie takes medicine and is on a Ketogenic diet to help limit the number of seizures.

During the first six months Kenzie was on the special diet, she didn't have any seizures. Now she has them daily.

In school, she uses a wheelchair. At home, she gets around by crawling.

Making the trip with Ms. Snyder and Kenzie will be Kenzie's sister, Brittany, 15, who is a ninth grader at Milton Area Senior High School, and Kenzie's dad, Ken. Brittany has been to Disney World twice before with her aunt.

Brittany is looking forward to showing us the things she has seen, Ms. Snyder said.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation provides wishes to children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 who have life-threatening conditions.

The wish can involve going on a trip, meeting someone special or receiving something that is needed.

When Ms. Weigle visited, she gave Kenzie a white bear with a pink ribbon and the family Make-A-Wish T-shirts and hats.

While they are gone, Kenzie's grandmother Agnes Rathfon of Lewisburg will be baby-sitting their new puppy, Miken. Her other grandparents are Rox and Ken Snyder of Lewisburg.

For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit www.wishgreaterpa.org. or call 1-888-545-9474.

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