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Show Sun Advocate Price, Utah Thursday July 18. 2002 wish, I wish upon a I By KAREN BASSO Staff reporter bikes with his father. His dad will ride on the hills Many seven year old children dream of visiting Disneyland. The enchantment and magic which surrounds the attraction is unlike any other place on earth for a child This holds especially true for seven year old Kolton next to our home and take Kolton with him. The whole time, Kolton will wear a smile on his face, explained Shawna. For a young child who is wheelchair bound, the activity is simple, yet it means so much. The Dean family tries to participate in as many activities as they possibly can with Kolton. Dean. As a young boy, Koltons parents, Kyle ami Shawna noticed that their young child had a health problem. - true for the young boy. After packing their bags, the Dean family prepared for an adventure of a lifetime. It was off to California where the family would stay at hotels, visit resorts, and ride in limousines. For the five days that the family was there, they were treated like royalty. We got to ride to and from the airport in a limousine. At Disneyland we were able to move to the front of the line so that Kolton did not have to wait in the sun. This was important because exposure to the sun can advance the stages of his disease, Immediately, the Deans began searching for an answer. Af- ter many yean of g and several visits to various medical professionals, the disorder was pinpointed just last year. According to medical doctors, Dean suffers from a rare form of leukod-ystrophy. In fact, this type of leukodystrophy is so rare that only six cases have been confirmed in the United States, including Dean. Magalencephalic also known as van der knapp syndrome is a disease which affects the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. This disease is caused by a defective gene which in many cases has been passed on from one generation to another, however it is unsure of how many generations will be effected or if any will be. Unfortunately for the Dean family, this disease has found its way into their lives. test-in- leukoen-cephalopath- : IB y, Although Kolton suffers from S serious diseue, he is a happy child. According to his mother, Kolton most usually wears a smile upon his face and just ply enjoys life. In fact, a favorite explained Shawna. The Dean fam- visited ily Disneyland July 3--7, A family member decided that an adventure which would remain with the Dean family for a lifetime would be a trip to Disneyland. The family member then started making phone calls and got the ball rolling with the Make A Wish Foundation who agreed to send the Deans on a family vacation. The foundation was originally organized to allow children who suffer from terminal illnesses to experience their most wished for dreams. Some children chose to travel while other ask for objects such as the child who wished for a backyard filled with grass. After talking with the Dean family, the foundation felt that sending Kolton to Disneyland would truly be a dream come The Dean family stands outside the gates at Disneyland, Jhe trip was truly magical for Kolton who had the chance to . Because the family was present during the July 4 festivities, they were able to attend the fireworks display and enjoy all the holiday festivities. The nightly parade which is held at the resort was a favorite activity for Kolton whos face lit up as the floats passed He also had the chance to attend several shows and meet many of the Disney characters, including Minnie Mouse. His favorite character was Minnie Mouse. She came up to him and gave him a big hug and he just lit up," Shawna explained. The family rode as many rides as they could during their visit to the resort, however Kolton enjoyed the fast moving rides the most. After their vacation was over, the Dean family returned home with many memories to share. The vacation may have only lasted a short time, but the memories will last forever in the minds of Kolton and his family. meet many of the Disney characters and ride most of the rides at the amusement park. smiles framer to ear as he and his mother K snawna noe m a unoustne wrwe visiting M usneyiana. wnne An excited Kolton i W. the familywas on the vacation, they were treated like royalty wnn nonon oemgnamea meomcrai Migraine wees. Bring the animal kingdom home by choosing the right pet By CAROLYN CAMPBELL Contributing writer Its easy to decide you want a adults alike fall Children and pet m love with dogs, cats, birds, and even mice, In real life, having a pet for a friend can be an enriching and instructive experience for a child. The following suggestions are offered to help promote positive pet ownership for you and your Child. Reach a firm decision about whether you and your child actually want to own a pet The John Daniels family has Siamese cat named a 20 year-oAbernathy who follows them around the block each night and eageriyebases the family's 10 year old tabby, Edwina. Abernathy looks nearly as young as the day Mr. Daniels bought him. This cat has been part of the family before any ofthe four children were bom, and may be there after one or more of them leave the nest. While not many animals live as long as Abernathy, pet ownership is a commitment that hopefully lasts several years. Parents can ask themselves if suchacom-mitmefits with their current . lifestyle, and also erplain to a" child that buying a pet means taking responsibility for that ki nt anunaTs lifelong care. Experts interviewed for this article advise preparing a child in advance for pet ownership rather than presenting him with a pet as a surprise birthday or Christmas present. They add that exotic holiday pets such as rabbits or chickens are often viewed as holiday "novelties" and are later neglected or ig- tions for a pet Consider maintenance costs and requirements. All pets, like all living things, . require some care and mainte- nance. The trick is matching the necessary care with a family's lifestyle. A dog that requires lots home at the end of the day, there are multiple priorities that need to be taken care nd the dog's daily walk may get skipped," says Mandy Shapira of The Pet (inter. She suggests are by nature that two cats-w-ho more independent and prefer to take care of their own needs-mi- ght be a better choice for a busy family. On the other hand, while reptiles such as lizards, box turtles, iguanas, and boa constrictors, don't require a daily walk, they do need to eat the same day every week and live in cages that are exceptionally clean because they are subject ento bacteria in a vironment "Their diet often includes live food-wh-ich makes some mothers squeamish, adds nored. of-a- Read about the pet before you bring it home to your kids. Jody Hanger, an animal expert, suggests reading a book about any animal you and your child are considering as a pet to see if it is compatible with your family as far as maintenance, itccMBwy temperament For example, she recommends that any family considering a dog should have a fencedyard. "If there isn't a fence, every time the dog needs to go out, it will have to be taken on a leash, which can become inconvenient There's also a greater risk of it getting lost or being hit by a man-ma- C8T. One family with four children were of two minds about the pet that would be best for them. The father and two older boys wanted a Dalmatian that would primarily live outdoors while the mother and younger children wanted a Llasa Amo to live in the house. After visiting with every dog in the pet store, their happy solution was to purchase both a Llasa and a Dalmatian at the same time, filling all their family's specifica of exercise may not have his needs met with a family where both parents work and the children are in day care. "When such a family comes de owner's home. Medical care accompanies maintenance. One family fell madly in love with their new red tabby. Tiger-b- ut in the hustle and bustle of daily life, failed to provide the kitten with immunizations. After two short years, Tiger suffered and died from feline leukemia, which immunization would have prevented. Hanger advises potential pet owners to call various organizations about prices for vaccination, spaying and other medical care, and to understand these costs before purchasing an animal. Another problem is loss of an animal that gets out or escapes the house. Dr. Martin G. Orr, DVM, recommends that all animals be identified with a collar, tag, or microchip inserted beneath the skin ' so that theywill be readily returned if lost. Dr. Orr also recommends that an owner frequently conduct hands-o-n examinations of a pet duringplay. "Look down the ear canal, feel Shapira. Birds, which are popular the cheeks and gums and in bewith many kids, need basically tween the toes, he suggests. "The the same diet as people, most important thing is to make salt or oils, sine that body functions are pre"Actually, the less seed they dictable and routine. If anything eat, the bettn, says Shapira,' who strikes you are unusual, call your adds that birds are a good vet, who can inform you ifa condi- choice for a family who travels, tioqisnormaL" Heisays such hands-o- n frequently, because a bird can be taken in its cage to another will also accustomthe pet place for cqjjjfcatber than requiring someone to crime to the (Continued on page 2B) with-outt- he i Si iW . . !y ; : Kids and puppies can be a cuts combination, but it takes morv than just wantiiig an animal to take care of ttwm property for the good of aD, pet ownership must be considered carefully, based on the needs and situation of a family. f i . |