Katherine Camagong, a bright young resident of California, recently experienced a dream come true, thanks to the generosity of the Sunshine Foundation. Battling challenges stemming from Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), Katherine was granted a special wish: a trip to the Philippines to reconnect with loved ones.
Congenital Rubella Syndrome is a condition that arises when a fetus is infected with the rubella virus during pregnancy, often leading to a range of birth defects affecting the eyes, heart, hearing, and nervous system. For Katherine, despite these challenges, her spirit shines brightly, and her deepest wish was to visit her family in her hometown of Cavite, Philippines.
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That wish became a reality, allowing Katherine to spend precious time with her 82-year-old grandmother, with whom she grew up, her four beloved dogs, and other family members.
The impact of this trip is immeasurable, as expressed by Katherine’s mother: “Trip to the Philippines was a very memorable experience for my dear Katherine, and it is a true blessing. She was able to spend her most favorite time of the year with her 82-year-old grandma, who she grew up with, and her four pet doggies along with her family in her hometown of Cavite. She is beyond joyful and grateful to the sponsors for making her dream wish turn into reality and with her limited vocabulary, she wants to say, ‘Thank you, Katkat happy!’ Sunshine Foundation is truly amazing and such a blessing to our kids and their families.”
The Sunshine Foundation is dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of children facing lifelong severe chronic illnesses and conditions, including spina bifida, cerebral palsy, severe autism, Down syndrome, hydrocephalus, severe epilepsy, Sickle Cell Disease, blindness, deafness, and trauma from abuse.
Unlike some other wish-granting organizations that require a life-threatening diagnosis, the Sunshine Foundation opens its arms to children who may otherwise be overlooked.
To continue its vital work, the Sunshine Foundation relies heavily on the kindness of individuals, organizations, and corporations. Katherine’s special “Dream Come True” was made possible through the generosity of a dedicated donor.
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While magical trips to popular destinations like Legoland, Universal Studios, Disney World, and SeaWorld, often with stays at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village near Disney, remain common requests, the organization also grants Special Dreams such as shopping sprees, computers and iPads, outdoor playsets, swimming pools, family trips, cruises, adaptive tricycles, and other essential special needs equipment.
Since its inception in 1976, the Sunshine Foundation has brought joy and hope to over 43,280 children across the United States. The organization proudly holds the distinction of being the Top-Rated Wish-Granting Organization in America, boasting a perfect 100% score on Charity Navigator and an “A” rating from CharityWatch.
To learn more about the Sunshine Foundation and how you can help make dreams come true for other deserving children, please visit www.sunshinefoundation.org.
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