Bowie Youngster Meets Wrestling Superstar Through Wish Program

It’s not every day that 13-year-old Josh Whaley of Bowie gets to meet one of his wrestling idols.

In fact, living with Crouzon Syndrome means the teen fights through impaired hearing, inhibited motor skills, increased risk of fluid in his brain, and dozens of surgeries.

In a wish granted through Kids Wish Network, Josh, an avid wrestling fan, was awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to meet World Wrestling Entertainment’s World Heavyweight Champion John Cena and attend a Monday Night Raw wrestling event.

“Providing joy to kids is what Kids Wish Network is all about,” the charity’s spokeswoman Sarah DuPree said in an interview with Gazette.Net. “For a child, like Josh, who is facing a life-threatening condition, having a once-in-a-lifetime experience, like this, can make a world of difference. It can bring back that spark of hope.”

Crouzon Syndrome is a genetic birth disorder that affects the development of the cranial cavity and results in varying levels of facial abnormalities and impaired vision, hearing, breathing, and motor skills. Josh’s mother, Anjolene, told the Gazette she also carries the gene for Crouzon Syndrome, but suffers from symptoms much less severe.

Diagnosed when he was only one year old, Josh has since had over 15 surgeries surgeries to overcome his condition, according to the charity. But in spite of the challenges he faces, Josh is still a normal kid. When he’s not watching wrestling, he enjoys reading books and playing video games.

Kids Wish Network is a charitable organization headquartered in Florida works to improve the quality of life for children with terminal disabilities and diseases.

Photo courtesy of World Wrestling Entertainment

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