[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 72 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E980]]
              IN RECOGNITION OF THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 12, 2000

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, on June 8, 2000 a reception was held 
in the Capitol to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Make-A-
Wish Foundation. During the past two decades, this organization has 
fulfilled almost 80,000 wishes made by children who are ill.
  The highlight of this reception was an inspirational address made by 
a remarkable seven-year-old named Ryan Davidson. Ryan, who had a brain 
tumor, is the 3,000th ``Wish Child'' of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Make-
A-Wish Foundation. His speech follows:

Remarks By Ryan Davidson Make-A-Wish 20th Anniversary Reception June 8, 
                                  2000

       Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, my name is Ryan 
     Davidson and I am seven years old. I go to Ashburn Elementary 
     and I am in the first grade. Today I am well and feeling 
     great! But I didn't feel good last summer.
       Two weeks after kindergarten, I had a ton of really bad 
     headaches. My mom gave me Tylenol but it didn't help. My 
     headaches got worse and my left hand wouldn't work. I 
     couldn't get a tight grip when I tried to hold stuff. My mom 
     and dad took me to Dr. ``D'' in Ashburn. Dr. ``D'' said that 
     I should go have an x-ray. We went to the hospital for the x-
     ray. I was scared of the big x-ray machine. After my x-ray 
     the doctors said that I should go to Children's Hospital for 
     more x-rays. I had to lay still alone in the machine. I had 
     four x-rays in one day!
       The doctors said that I had a brain tumor and had to stay 
     over night. I was scared to stay by myself, so my mom stayed, 
     too. Four days later I had my surgery. I was scared. Before 
     the doctors put me to sleep, they told me to think about that 
     green car going around the track. After my surgery, I woke up 
     during another x-ray. The machine was moving forward and 
     back. It was very loud and I was scared.
       The next day, I was called the human ``Q-tip'' because I 
     had a bandage that looked like the top of a ``Q-Tip''. I was 
     in the hospital for five days. I still had stitches when I 
     went home. A week later I had to get my stitches out. I had 
     to go to sleep while I got the stitches out.
       I still have to have MRI's.
       Then in October, ``Make-A-Wish'' came. They asked lots of 
     questions and asked me where I wanted to go. I wanted to go 
     meet my favorite racecar driver, Bobby Labonte, and see the 
     race. I knew he would be at a racetrack!
       In the spring, we had a party for all the people who had 
     helped while I was in the hospital. Near the end of the 
     party, Make-A-Wish came back to grant my wish! They said, 
     ``You're leaving next week to go to California!'' I started 
     jumping up and down. Make-A-Wish got me a ton of stuff. Then 
     on Wednesday, a limousine picked me up from school and took 
     me to the airport. When we got there, we went to the cockpit. 
     I got to sit where the Captain sits.
       When we got to California and got off the plane, I felt a 
     hat. It was our host, John! He got me balloons and when we 
     got to the hotel, he gave me four Bobby Labonte cars.
       On Friday, we went to practices and qualifying races. Bobby 
     Labonte qualified 36th. On Saturday, I woke up early. We went 
     to the track. When we got there we went to meet Bobby 
     Labonte!
       When we first got there, while we were waiting, I got to 
     hold his racing helmet. Then when Bobby came out of the 
     trailer, I got to spend almost 15 minutes with him. I asked 
     him lots of questions about racing and he autographed two 
     hats, a car, a tee shirt, and my racing uniform. Then he gave 
     my sister, Mallory, and me each a team hat. It was the 
     greatest day of my life!
       The next day was race day! Bobby came in second! On Monday 
     we left to go home. I had a lot of fun!
       I hope you enjoyed my story. It has a very happy ending. 
     Thanks Make-A-Wish for making my dream come true.

                          ____________________