E D I T O R ’ S N O T E
AMERICANWAY
NOVEMBER 15 2009
10
picture-perfect morning in the
heart of Texas, and while chil-
dren Tagen’s age were starting
their mornings to the same ar-
resting image, he managed to
see right through it, if he even
noticed it at all. Rather, Tagen
made a beeline to the kitchen,
where his parents, Rodney and
Melanie, were readying his two
sisters for school.
With gusto, Tagen made his
presence knownby announcing
to the room, “Only three more
Fridays!”
Only 21 days from that sec-
ondFriday inSeptember, Tagen
Valewould turn sevenyearsold.
But even that milestone had
taken a backseat to the other
event scheduled forOctober2.
“I’mgoing toMickeyMouse’s
house!” he declared. “I’m going
to seewhereMickey lives!”
Ah,Mickey. Perhaps the only
creature who has the power to
eviscerate the excitement that
comes with a child’s seventh
birthday. This meeting with
Mickey, however, would not be
happenstance. Nor would this
vacationbea typical one toDis-
neyWorld.
For starters, Tagen Vale is
special. Hemanages to live and
love and learn in spite of his
chronic and disabling medi-
cal condition. Although he has
a rare, acute form of cerebral
palsy, Tagen exudes happi-
ness and pride in his modest
surroundings.
Rodney andMelanie have to
watch their money these days
becauseTagen’smedicalbillsof-
ten addup fast. In lieuof cable,
they made the one-time pur-
chase of
Mickey Mouse Club-
house
onDVD. “Hewill sit there
andwatch thoseshowsoverand
over and over again,” Melanie
says. “He knows every song and
every word, and he sings them
every time they’reon.”
Tagen’s dream has always
beentoactuallymeetthemouse.
That dreamwas deferred years
ago, though, since there was
simplynopossibleway tobank-
roll a family trip to Orlando,
Florida. But this past summer,
somethingmagical happened.
Melanie
contacted
the
DreamFactory of SanAntonio,
a nonprofit that makes dreams
come true for children ages
three through 18with critical or
chronic illnesses.
At the time, Melanie didn’t
realize that Tagen’s trip would
bemadeextra special byAmeri-
canAirlines’SomethingmAAgic
Foundation, a nonprofit orga-
nization comprising volunteers
whoarecurrentand formerem-
ployees of AA, AmericanEagle,
and American Airlines Federal
Credit Union. These folks sup-
port the mission of Give Kids
the World and create everlast-
ingmemories.
WishFlight, the Something
mAAgic Foundation’s marquee
event, provided 31 children an
unforgettable vacation experi-
ence in Orlando this year. The
children and their families flew
from around the globe on AA
and AE flights to visit Central
Florida’s attractions and stay at
GiveKids theWorldVillage.
“Without these programs,
therewasnowayI’deverbeable
to take him to Disney World,”
Rodney says. “Hismedical bills
are more than I make every
year. This is a dream come true
for all of us, actually.”
When that first Friday in
Arobin’seggbluespreadacrossthehorizonfromcelestialpole
to sphereon the secondFriday inSeptember.Not evenwispy
cirruscloudsdottedtheupperreachesof theSanAntoniosky,
as thefieryorb100,000,000milesawaymanaged toburnoff
allsignsofaccumulatedmoisture.InthenearbytownofMar-
ion, six-year-oldTagenVale awoke to the azuremorning sky
asdaybreak’snatural light illuminatedhisbedroom. Itwas a
DoYouBelieve inmAAgic?
AdamPitluk
Editor
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.
October finally rolled around,
and when the Vale family ar-
rived in Dallas/Fort Worth to
board their connecting flight to
Orlando,allof their facesradiat-
eda lightnot foundonanyspec-
trum. That light grew brighter
witheachvacationdayandafter
everyencounterwithMickey.
And the light hasn’t extin-
guished since their return to
Marion. Though the skies over
Texasarea littlegrayer this time
of year, andwhileTagenhas re-
turned to his routine of watch-
ing
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
on DVD and singing along, a
little catchdevelops inhis voice
these days. It’s a catch that con-
veys emotion, the likes ofwhich
can only be conjured by a child
who’s been to Mickey Mouse’s
house.
A special thank-you fromme
to all the people and organiza-
tions who made this dream a
reality for theVale family.
Have a happy Thanksgiving,
America.
Mickey andTagenVale
