For just $5 a month, you can be part of a group of supporters helping make more Dreams a reality for Manitoba kids battling life-threatening illnesses.
Dream Builders help bring Dreams to life - Aria’s: A letter from a Dream Parent
Aria has always been our little princess - we kind of always knew Disney would be her Dream Come True. Aria is non-verbal because of her illness, so she communicates with sounds, smiles, blinks, and other reactions. When we were helping her choose her Dream, we went over things she likes with her. Disney always got the most reaction. When we would talk about Disney princesses, she couldn’t stop smiling! We knew Disney was her top choice.
With the help of our amazing team of doctors, we were able to make sure Aria could safely travel. The doctors weren’t exactly sure how air travel would go, and there were a lot of medications to organize and special strollers and wheelchairs to prepare. With the support of The Dream Factory, our medical team, and the wonderful folks at the Give Kids the World Village, everything was ready for our trip and when we arrived in Florida!
When we arrived, we knew our week was going to be busy - there was so much stuff we could do! And I mean, it almost got a little overwhelming at some points. You're like, where do I go? Do I want to do this today? Oh my gosh, do I want to do Disney today? Or do I want to stay at The Village because there's so much to do - like going to the all-day ice cream parlour (that was Brie’s favourite!), the pool, and so much more! Basically, you could have spent the whole week just in the Village doing all the things that they had planned. It was hard to decide where you wanted to go because there were so many options!
On the days we ventured to Disney, we were amazed by was how accessible it was for kids like Aria. So many rides were wheelchair accessible and for many of the other rides, I was able to hold Aria so we could enjoy the rides and attractions as a family. The ‘Frozen’ ride was one of Aria’s favourites, and our special passes allowed us to go right to the front of the lines. The whole family had an absolute blast!
Aria is also a huge fan of Peppa Pig, and between The Dream Factory and Give Kids the World, we were able to get a van rental and venture off to a Peppa Pig theme park close by! Aria was in her element. She was so happy. The Peppa Pig park actually just opened before we arrived, Aria’s Dream trip came at such a perfect time for her!
It was so hard to leave, because Disney really is magical. When we're at home, there are constantly different problems that come up with Aria’s health. But at Disney, everyone was just so happy. Aria did amazing - there was like never a time where we're like ‘oh man like here comes an effect of rare disease’. She truly did perfect - both at the park and during our flights. There really is power in a Dream Come True.
We would have never been able to give her - and our whole family - these amazing memories without you, Give Kids the World, and our doctors. Aria’s Dream Trip is something we will never forget.
You Belong Here.
This incredible community is composed of generous, passionate, and determined people—like you—who hold the Dreams of sick children close to their hearts. They’re world changers and memory makers for kids in Manitoba, and their families. And you’re going to fit right in.
Meet a Dream Builder - Brenda Ambrosie!
“Brad and I are parents of one daughter, we never thought we would have any children but we were blessed with at least one. Our ‘one’ changed our lives and made us a family. Our ‘one’ became the joy in our lives and our missing link. Our ‘one’ was growing in leaps and bounds into a little toddler. Happy, curious yet something wasn’t quite right with our ‘one’.”
I was home alone with her and she was bee-lining on her hands and knees down the hall and suddenly went limp and lethargic, she began vomiting and kept her eyes closed. I quickly grabbed her put her in her car seat and went to my neighbour to drive us to the hospital. She couldn’t stop vomiting. We waited our turn all the while she is still purging her tiny little stomach. They asked me why I would bring her in with a flu! This was no flu, you aren’t happy and laughing and then out flat in the middle of a stride when you have a flu. They sent us home, just a virus.
Our ‘one’ had the same ‘flu’ 5 weeks later, and again 5 weeks after that and every 5 weeks exactly after that for a year. On our third trip to the ER they finally admitted it can’t be a flu. They did a CT scan we spent the night and it was concluded that she had childhood migraines. Once again we were blessed with our ‘one’. We were preparing for the worst.
Pictured: Brenda’s two grandchildren - one part of the reason she became a monthly donor.
We were given tickets to one of the Gala events and we realized again how lucky we were. It was there that we heard the stories of these children who weren’t as lucky as our ‘one’. We cried tears for those who touched our hearts but we never met. We cried for the parents and prayed for their strength. We knew there was a importance to these kids with futures unknown to have a dream, to take their minds off their troubles for at least a little while.
Because of our ‘one’ we became monthly donors to help insure these children can have their dreams come true, to dream is to live and to live is to dream. The Dream Factory community is amazing, filled with all walks of life, all types of people with all kinds of reasons for doing what they do, but the common factor is the love and compassion for the children. These young lives need to dream. Our dream came true for our ‘one’….she grew out of her migraines once she had started kindergarten. Our ‘one’ also blessed us with ‘two’ beautiful grandchildren!! These ‘two’ are one of the reasons we will always donate to The Dream Factory, the other is the love of children's laughter.”
-Dream Builder, Brenda.
Meet Dream Builders Linda and Tom Wingrove
Pictured: Dream Kid Teri celebrating a Dream Come True with her family in Florida.
Our Daughter Teri was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of three. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that effects the repiratory and digestive systems, and for which there is no cure. Treatment involves physiotherapy and medications to address frequent lung infections as well as aid in digestion. Children like Teri who grow up with Cystic Fibrosis have to accept an uncertain future and a life dominated by clinic visits, hospitalizations, and constant home care.
In 1997, after 14 years of treatment, Teri’s doctor referred us to The Dream Factory. Teri’s Dream was a family trip to Disney World in Florida and we were thrilled to learn that her Dream would come true. From there, The Dream Factory took over and made all the arrangements. We were welcomed at the Give Kids The World Village, the cornerstone of the entire visit. The village caters completely to kids first, from Disney characters at every meal, a collection of free activities on the grounds, and our own villa to stay in together as a family while we explored the theme parks in the area with the rental car they provided. We had priority access to rides, attractions, and restaurants throughout Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens. It was so well arranged with the entire family in mind, all we had to do was enjoy the experience and make memories!
Once we returned from our trip, Teri spoke at the Dream Maker Auction in support of The Dream Factory’s fundraising efforts and to show her appreciation for the experience provided by the Dream Team to our family.
The Dream Factory does an amazing job of providing special experiences to children and youth with life-threatening illnesses facing an uncertain future. Our experience was the reason we’ve continued to support The Dream Factory for the past 20 years.
Teri passed away in 2001 at the age of 21, just four years after our Dream Trip, and this wonderful family experience granted us an amazing collection of memories to cherish forever. For those 10 days in Florida, Teri could push the worries of her disease to the background and just revel in being a child in a magical place.
We are pleased to continue to pay it forward for other families facing their own health challenges so they may get the chance to build a collection of happy memories of their own. The work done by The Dream Factory community and the compassion they put forth into making Dreams come true is unparalleled. The experiences are life changing for both sick kids and their families alike.
- Dream Builders Linda and Tom Wingrove
Good News
As a Dream Builder, you will receive a monthly Building Report to keep you updated on the impact you are having on the Dreams of Dream Kids and how you are bringing a light to an otherwise dark time for them and their family.
The Building Report is a monthly email to remind you how much your contribution matters. We hope it will keep you smiling all month long!
Close your eyes and imagine how it feels when your Dream comes true…
Now imagine how it feels knowing you helped create these feelings of joy and hope to a child struggling with a life-threatening illness.
As a Dream Builder, you know how important a Dream is to these children, and you’ve taken action to ensure their Dream will become a reality. You are a kind, caring, and generous member of our Dream Community.
And an incredibly easy, impactful, and affordable way to take action is to become a Dream Builder! As part of our monthly donor family, your monthly gift will help build the Dreams of sick children in our province. Your kindness and generosity will be the source of the smile on their face.
When you believe in the power of a Dream Come True and take action, you will build so much hope for Dream Kids here in Manitoba.
The average Dream costs over $10,000. In 2021 we made 27 Dreams come true. That’s over $270,000 in Dreams built.
Each Dream consists of smaller pieces. For Malachi’s bedroom makeover that means a new bed, a tv, and toys! For Emma’s backyard, that’s landscaping, a new playset, and beautiful flowers. For Aria’s Dream Trip, it was a plane ticket for her and each of her family members. And for Aysen’s Dream Camper, it’s camping supplies to enjoy the outdoors.
With your help, all the pieces of a Dream can be put together! If this sounds like you, consider becoming a member of the Dream Builders today!
