Father blocks 4-year-old's Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World-Follow up posted.Donations make her wish

[Are_grits_groceries]

Whitney Hughes and her daughter, McKenna May, are seen at their home in Haskins, Ohio.

The father of a 4-year-old Ohio leukemia patient has refused to allow her to take a long-sought Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World, saying the money should be spent on kids who are still terminally ill, the Sentinel-Journal reports.

McKenna May was all set to go after completing two years of leukemia treatment, reports the newspaper in Bowling Green, Ohio. But her father, William May, of Toledo, has refused to give his permission. "Spend the money on a child who this might be their last memory," May says. "Kids who are only going to live a year or six months."
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The issue appears to be caught up in a domestic dispute. McKenna's parents never married or lived together. Her grandmother says the father only recently received visitation privileges, the Associated Press reports.

The Sentinel-Tribune's Jan Larson McLaughlin writes that McKenna was diagnosed with leukemia in April 2010 and underwent her last treatment last month.

The two-year ordeal has included 15 spinal taps, multiple chemotherapy treatments, and steroid injections. She won't be ruled "cancer free" for five more years.
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http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/07/father-blocks-4-year-olds-make-a-wish-trip-to-disney-world/1#.UAhYX2t5mK1

I hope the karma train runs over his sorry ass soon!
They grant wishes to kids who are terminal, but they also grant them to kids who have had some rough years of treatment. When they are healthy again, it is a real treat after all that pain.

She's TWO-freaking-years old and has had 15 spinal taps. She should be able to go anywhere she wants.

[Rabid_Rabbit]

1. I hope the karma train runs over his sorry ass soon!

That pretty much sums up my feelings.

[Tsiyu]

2. Punishing the baby to get even with the mama

It's what Control Freaks do best.

Won't go to that site, but did a judge rule this was legal? Is the baby in a state where out-of-state travel must be approved?

My heart goes out to McKenna and all those who actually love her and want her to see some happiness after all her pain.

Her Daddy, unfortunately, is a schmuck of the highest order.

A judge should intervene on her behalf if possible.

[Happyhippychick]

3. I'm a MAW wish granter. The criteria is that the child has a life-threatening illness, not that that

are terminally ill.

Asshole.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

4. I'm glad to hear their criteria is broader than I thought.

For a brief moment I could see the father's argument -- his little girl will have a chance to go on her own later, but some other child might not have the time to wait.

But since MAW says she fits the criteria -- heck, I still can't fault the father for thinking of other kids besides the one he knows, but I hope he knows he can let her go with a clean conscience.

[liberalhistorian]

6. The sperm donor hasn't even been

a part of her life until recently, and certainly not while she was undergoing treatment and the mother was dealing with that. Who the FUCK is he to deny this, and why the FUCK does what he want matter legally, especially if SHE has the fucking custody? My son's father and I were never married, also, but he was a shit while I was pregnant and then didn't really become a part of his life until a few years later. Had my son been sick and he pulled this shit, then, I would not only have hit the fucking roof, but I would have taken the child anyway, the HELL with what he thought about it!

If I were the mother, I'd go to court and get permission anyway. SHE is the one who's been there with her child throughout this whole ordeal. I can't see a court denying this if she takes it to court. And way to develop a bond and relationship with your child, deny her something like that after what she's been through and when you haven't been there for her yourself.

[rebecca_herman]

11. I have been following this story, so I'll answer your questions

The mother has sole legal custody. In Ohio, where she lives, that means she is the only parent with legal decision making rights. The father has some visitation, not sure how much. However, for some reason Make a Wish has an internal policy that both parents must consent, even if one has no custody rights. There is no law preventing McKenna's mother from taking her to Disney World if she saves the money herself, or if it is donated by individuals or organizations that don't have that policy. They've received more than enough on their donation site, so hopefully McKenna will be going on her trip. But the Make a Wish vacations are special, they get to skip lines, stay at a special resort, so she's still losing out on that.

[liberalhistorian]

13. I'm sorry, I have a lot of respect for MAW, it is

a truly wonderful organization. But its internal policy has got to go. I don't understand why they have it in the first place and why a parent with sole legal custody would not have the full rights here where they're concerned. If one parent has no custody rights, then he or she shouldn't be permitted to block the trip, period. Don't they see how this can be used by one parent against the other?

[rebecca_herman]

16. Oh, I agree with you

I think the rule should be different when the parents are separated and not sharing custody. Was just clearing it up.

[justice1]

5. I am not a charity, but...

I have two one-day hopper passes, I can give them... and I can probably come up with a couple of stand-by airline tickets.

[rhett o rick]

7. I am editing this post because of the following comments. They correctly point out

Last edited Thu Jul 19, 2012, 06:49 PM - Edit history (1)

two good points. One, my post sounded like I was coming down on you for your generous offer. It is a wonderful suggestion and plez count me in. I was disgusted with the article because it wasnt clear (at least to me) how the father was holding up the process. I jumped to a conclusion and was w-w-wrong. I apologize to you for my poorly worded post.

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. Why are you jumping on this offer?

The article may have been misread, but the intention was good.

[rebecca_herman]

12. Incorrect

It has nothing to do with the mother not being able to remove the child from the state. It's an internal policy of the Make a Wish organization that both parents must accept the trip, even if only one has custody rights.

[rhett o rick]

15. I stand corrected. I incorrectly assumed the father's signature was needed as part of

the custody. Again, my mistake.

[xmas74]

14. The comment section says they have all the money they need now for the trip.

It's just the dad puffing his chest.

[rhett o rick]

17. Wonderful news. nm

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. Follow up: Magic of donors may make Disney wishes come true

In her quest to see Cinderella, McKenna May has encountered many fairy godmothers ... and godfathers.

When the 4-year-old's story ran Tuesday in the Sentinel-Tribune, collections jars had been placed around Wood County to try to get the Haskins girl to her dream Disney World vacation.

McKenna's story, however, took flight when it was picked up by Associated Press, Yahoo.com and Huffington Post website. The tale tugged at the heartstrings of people nationwide, who wanted to help the cancer survivor get to Disney.
According to McKenna's mom, Whitney Hughes, a fund set up at Fifth Third Bank in Bowling Green generated more than 120 phone calls Wednesday.

At the Sentinel-Tribune, emails and calls came from Washington, D.C., New York, California, Louisiana, Nebraska and even Afghanistan, from people moved to help McKenna.
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More: http://www.sent-trib.com/front-page/magic-of-donors-may-make-disney-wishes-come-true

and unless that little girl really wants him along, that asshole can make a wish that he misses the karma train train this time.

[KamaAina]

10. Today's Worst. Person. In The World!

(please come back, Keith )

[rebecca_herman]

18. A happy ending

The family has raised more than enough money. How sad that strangers cared more than her dad - they needed $3500 and raised $13k. The extra will be going to a different charity which is working with them so that McKenna can stay at the special resort and skip lines like the kids from Make a Wish and other charities.

http://www.northwestohio.com/news/story.aspx?id=778693