Dream Granted for Child and His Family

Another dream came true, thanks to the Sunshine Foundation. 

Earlier this month, 11-year-old Khalil Embery and his family were taken on a trip to sunny Florida. Khalil couldn't wait to see the Shrek 4-D attraction at Universal Studios.

They packed their days in Orlando with activity: visitng Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, Ripley's Believe it or Not, NASA for a rocket bast off, three different beaches, and Khalil and his mom went on a helicopter ride.

"We made the most of it," said Khalil's mom, Kelly Anderson. "I planned ahead, and we made sure to do anything and everything." 

The Sunshine Foundation is an organization that answers the dreams of chronically ill, seriously ill, physically challenged and abused children, ages 3-18 from all over the country.They have granted 35,000 dreams in 35 years to children that have been abused, are disabled, or chronically ill. Khalil suffered a brain injury at birth, causing eplilepsy and autism.   

And with Khalil’s wish granted, his mom has now started a Minnesota chapter of the Sunshine Foundation, hoping to give many more kids in Minnesota the gift that her son received. 

Anderson and companion Dennis Moore also started the Keys for Kids program, which collects old keys and recycles them for profit. Every $5,000 raised through donated keys will go to grant one area child their wish. Every dream will require about 521,500 old keys to make a reality. 

"You know, someone actually wanted to help my son," Anderson said. "We all look back and think about our trip and just smile. It's one of those times when you are at a loss for words."

Anderson hopes they are able to create similar memories for many children and their families in the future.