Daryl Graham is ready for his trip Saturday to Disney World in Florida sponsored by the Make-A-Wish foundation. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge]

Nine-year-old Daryl Graham will visit Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., this week through the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Daryl was born with Apert Syndrome, a result of a genetic flux, which only happens to about 15 of a million children. "The community has followed his progress through the newspaper and they ask about him all the time," his mother, Denise, said. Everyone has been very supportive.

While he has no mental deficiencies as in some cases of the syndrome, Daryl was born with a high, full forehead and flat skull and his eye's bulged. He was also born with webbed hands and feet.

Daryl has had 23 surgeries so far to correct the malformations of the skull, midface, hands, and feet and has a major, "pretty risky" operation coming up next year, which is why the family approached the Make-A-Wish Foundation about arranging the trip.

The surgery will be on the mid-face. Daryl will have to be out of school for three months and will be in a halo-type device, Denise said.

Daryl has already gone through some "groundbreaking surgeries" over the years, his mother said. "It's a pretty risky surgery, so we want him to be able to have a wish."

The trip is being sponsored by M. Lee Smith Publishers in Brentwood, which picked Daryl out of a list of children who wanted a wish. They'll leave Saturday and return Aug. 13.

Daryl and his family will be flown to Orlando, all expenses paid, and there will be no waits in line for the rides. They will be staying in a village, "Give Kids the World," which is near the park and limited to Make-A-Wish children.

Along with the apartments, there is 24-hour nursing care, swimming pool, a 24-hour ice cream palace and even a 6-foot bunny that can tuck the kids into bed.

The Nashville Zoo at Grassmere is throwing a farewell party for him today with friends and family invited, along with a tour of the zoo.

Daryl, who has a strong interest in aviation, says he can't wait for the flight to Orlando. He's looking forward to the EPCOT Center and the NASA exhibit.

They fly with Angel Flight, an all-volunteer organization that carries the family to medical appointments. They've gotten to know the pilots over the years, who have allowed Daryl to actually fly the plane.

"It's all been wonderful, unbelievable," Denise said. "The people that donate for Make-A-Wish, there's so many wonderful people out there. You hear so many bad things, but there's more good than bad."

The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 when young Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. The organization has since reached over 144,000 children worldwide.

While it has become one of the world's most well-known charities, the foundation has maintained the grassroots fulfillment of its mission.

Those who want to get involved in the Make-A-Wish Foundation should contact Tanya Sturm, who handles wish granting, at (615) 259-2324 ext. 2 or e-mail her at tanya@middletennessee.wish.org.

"Bedford County has been so supportive of us and Daryl and they're still interested to this day how he's doing," Denise said. She sits on the Child Development Board and has nothing but praise for them for all the work they've done.

"We're just very fortunate."