On May 22, six-year-old Blake Wilkerson of Cabot got a surprise of a lifetime. He was asked to help the Beebe Junior High School Future Business Leaders of America with its final program of the year, and he was excited about the opportunity.
“They were doing an end-of-the-year program,” Blake’s mother, Claire Wilkerson, said. “Blake’s main job was to draw names out of a hat to present gifts to the kids.”
The FBLA ceremony was just a way to get him to the school for his real surprise. Blake did not know that he was going to be receiving his wish to swim with dolphins through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Blake loves playing outdoors. His mother said he is a typical six-year-old boy who loves to run and jump and swim. When he was born, though, Claire and her husband, Brad, did not think Blake would be able to do any of those things.
“We were prepared for him being sedentary, and to see how much opposite from that he is, it’s a miracle,” she said.
Blake was born March 26, 2009, and it was not long before doctors delivered bad news to the family. Blake’s pediatrician heard a heart murmur during a routine newborn exam, and an echocardiogram showed that the murmur was a result of severely diminished heart function.
The newborn was rushed to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where after two days in the NICU he moved to the cardiac floor. After several tests, Blake’s parents were told his heart was functioning like the heart of a 90 year old.
At two weeks old, Blake was diagnosed with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, a chronic and sometimes progressive disease where the heart muscle is abnormally enlarged. He stayed at Arkansas Children’s Hospital for 29 days and went home on nine medications. Now, he is on two medications for his heart and gets an echocardiogram every six months to monitor his condition.
About a year ago, the Wilkersons started the Make-A-Wish process with Blake. He loves marine biology, Claire said, and he told the foundation that he wants a chance to swim with dolphins.
“Of course, that was a year ago,” she said.
Beebe Junior High School’s FBLA club raises $5,000 each year to sponsor a Make-A-Wish child. Blake did not know this. So he was not aware that each of the FBLA students knew who he was and that they were about to give him an incredible gift.
At one point in the FBLA ceremony, other children Blake’s age were brought up on stage. The emcee talked about wishes and dreams, and then went down the line asking each of them where they would like to go if they could go anywhere in the world.
“Blake stood there for a minute,” Claire said. “His comment was that he would want to go outside.”
With a little prodding, Blake changed his answer to say that he wanted to go to the beach. That was close enough. It was at that point Blake found out he and his family were going to the Atlantis Bahamas Resort, where he will have his desired opportunity to swim with dolphins.
“Make-A-Wish is amazing. They’re just amazing people,” Claire said. “We’re just so humbled. We’re givers, so this is kind of strange for us to receive something like this. My husband and I have already discussed it, and we’re going to be giving back to them.”
The Wilkersons will be leaving tomorrow for their vacation, and the whole family is excited about their adventure.
“It’s just wonderful,” Claire said.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.