By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on November 14, 2024.

Daniel Griffiths poses for a portrait Tuesday evening with Make-a-Wish representative Donna Serr.–News Photo Anna Smith

[email protected]
The local chapter of the Make-a-Wish Foundation was able to work its magic for the Griffiths family Tuesday evening, granting them a trip to Walt Disney World. For 17-year-old Daniel Griffiths, the news of his cancer diagnosis came incredibly quickly last September. “It was crazy,” said Corrina Griffiths, his mother. “We went to the doctor for tonsillitis, and a week later we were on a plane to Children’s Hospital. » Griffiths’ father, Ian, explained that what was previously thought to be a swelling turned out to be a mass that did not respond to antibiotics and was later taken for a biopsy in Calgary. It took an urgent turn, however, less than a week later. “He goes upstairs, just to get ready for school, and suddenly he can’t breathe,” Ian said. “So obviously I rushed him to the hospital. At this point, when we arrived at the hospital, the biopsy results had literally just come in as well. And that’s obviously when we were told it was cancer. Griffiths began chemotherapy the next day, and after surgery and a bone marrow transplant, he is incredibly grateful to be able to say that he has completed his treatment and has been in remission for a significant period of time, which makes it good enough to continue. this trip that Make-a-Wish was able to offer them. “I wanted to do something for us, as a whole family,” said Griffiths, who made sure he and his parents, alongside his two sisters Maxine and Samantha, could all make the trip together. “So we can get closer and really enjoy our time together.” The family expressed their gratitude to Make-a-Wish for helping them realize this dream, as well as Calgary Children’s Hospital and Medicine Hat Regional Hospital for helping them through treatment. by Griffiths. Their flight leaves for this final adventure on November 18.
-10