Alysha heads to DisneyWorld

MAKE A WISH. The Lewis Family celebrating with Make A Wish Foundation at Chili’s Restaurant in Zachary on the “Wish” granted to Alysha Lewis. Shown above are Make A Wish Foundation Volunteer Gwen Hicks; Aysha’s sister, Teri; her mother Rashunda Lewis, Little Miss Princess Alysha Lewis; grandmother Linda Lewis. Back row are her grandfather Jesse Lewis and father Ron Lewis.

HOLLEY LIPSCOMB

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HOLLEY LIPSCOMB

One little girl with a life threatening illness is simple and carefree and you would never know that she was sick. Her appearance and mannerism was like any other child you see anywhere. She doesn’t complain or feel sorry for herself. She doesn’t ask for much and when the Make A Wish Foundation asked her what she wanted to do with her one wish, she said go to McDonalds for lunch. That was the only answer that came out of that little girls mouth. How amazing is that? The tears poured down her mothers’ face as she knew her daughter was a very special little girl.
Alysha Lewis of Zachary just made seven-years-old on March 4th. She has been fighting with a disease called Wilms’ Tumor since the age of two.
Wilms’ tumor is a childhood kidney cancer, also called nephroblastoma. Wilms’ Tumor is a rare type of kidney cancer that causes a tumor to develop on either one or both kidneys. After years of fighting this disease, Alysha lost one kidney and her appendix and as a result, needed a wheelchair for over four months. Alysha has had six weeks of heavy doses of radiation and 30 weeks of chemotherapy. She is in stage three of this horrible disease. In 2008, she went through the Stem Cell transplant.
Northwestern Elementary School is tutoring her. Her teachers and faculty staff call her often just to check in to see how she is doing. Alysha’s social worker referred her to the Make A Wish Foundation and they have been with the Lewis Family now for over two years helping them cope with the situation. Gwen Hicks is a volunteer for the Texas Gulf Coast and La Chapter Make A Wish Foundation and met with the Lewis family at Chili’s in Zachary to hand over to them the package to Disney World. The foundation will fly the family to Disney World for her wish along with the trip to McDonalds, put them up in a home fit for a little princess like Alysha at The Magic Kingdom. They will also be furnishing them with spending money, and a rental car. The family will also get to wear a special wrist band at the park which allows them to cut in line and not wait for rides or events. Her daily meals will be at the Gingerbread House and free ice cream for the day. Alysha and her sister, Teri said their favorite character is Tinkerbell and they are so excited about meeting her.  
Alysha’s parents are Ron Lewis who coaches basketball at Central High School and is a math teacher at the middle school in Central. Her mother, Rashunda is employed with the City Parish Purchasing Department. Grandparents are Linda Lewis, former Assistant Principal at Zachary and Jesse Lewis who is also from Zachary.
Chili’s Manager Amanda Olivier and Maria Panarites had the servers prepare the meal for the Lewis family at no charge.
Our prayers are with the Lewis family; we wish them the best of luck and pray the trip will bring new hope to the family.