Make A Wish Foundation Grants Las Vegas Boy a Wish of A Lifetime

Aug. 23, 2010 - PRLog -- The Make A Wish Foundation recently interviewed local boy, Shon Darby, to grant him the wish of a lifetime.  Shon was born with Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus and has been through countless surgeries, spending half of his life in hospitals away from his family and friends.  Shon was born Oct 6, 1993 to Vanessa McConnell in Loma Linda, CA where he underwent his first surgery within hours of his birth to close the hole in his spine.  Within a week of birth a VP Shunt was placed in his head to drain the fluid off his brain.  From that point on his life was a constant battle to recover from setbacks from shunt malfunctions, vocal cord paralysis and penalization in his feet.  
    Shon’s initial wish was to meet the Pittsburg Steelers and spend time with his idol Troy Palomalu but due to the high demand of wished for the Steelers he chose to receive a technology shopping spree.  “I feel like I have an opportunity to get a lot of equipment and things that can help my career and keep me entertained, because I am by myself a lot.  I’m glad for this opportunity because it gives me hope and gives me something to look forward to with my future,” said Shon.  Considering everything he has been through in his 16 years of life, he deserves this wish of a lifetime.  
    “Shon was my miracle child.  Doctors told me that it was a possibility that he would never walk or talk but he somehow overcame those odds.  I remember finding out what he was going to be born with and face in life at 5 months of my pregnancy.  I met a lady on the bus stop after that doctor’s appointment that asked me what was wrong because I looked so sad.  I also told her that I had been contemplating terminating the pregnancy.  She replied to me that God won’t give me more than I can handle, and I knew from that point on that it was meant for me to give birth to him,” stated Vanessa McConnell.  
    Shon learned to walk at 2 years old and has been determined to live life as a normal child and refuse to depend on walkers and his wheelchair.  He would crawl and grasp hold of things around him to keep his balance.  In 2004 he had hip surgery that left him confined to his living room with two full leg casts.  Unable to go to school, leave the house or move around on his own, Shon developed depression and begin to lose interest in school and his health.  After three years of not walking, Shon decided to work on taking steps to walk on his own again.  Within a year he was not confined to his wheelchair and able to move around with only help of orthopedic braces.  
    Shon faces setbacks in school to date because of time missed during his hospital visits and operations.  He currently attends Mojave High School in North Las Vegas, NV where he is entering his senior year.  He continues to participate in school but still suffers from depression because he feels so far behind that he cannot catch up with his peers.  Shon is still hopeful that he will be successful in life despite his disadvantages.  Shon participates in as many afterschool activities as possible which are going to sporting events and supporting his school in their functions.  
    Shon has a passion for music and last year decided to pursue a career in becoming a radio show host for KWAV (Kids With A Voice) in Las Vegas, NV.  Shon recently moved to a radio station owned and operated by his mother, YBS Radio!, to further his career in the music industry.  Shon showcases old school talent, music and interviews with friends and guests on his show “Shon The Don.”  To listen to Shon every Saturday from 4pm to 6pm log on to www.ybsradio.com.    


About Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus

Spina bifida (Latin: "split spine") is a developmental birth defect caused by the incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube. Some vertebrae overlying the spinal cord are not fully formed and remain unfused and open. If the opening is large enough, this allows a portion of the spinal cord to protrude through the opening in the bones. There may or may not be a fluid-filled sac surrounding the spinal cord. Other neural tube defects include anencephaly, a condition in which the portion of the neural tube which will become the cerebrum does not close, which results when other parts of the brain remain unfused.

Hydrocephalus, also known as "water on the brain", is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. This may cause increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head, convulsion, and mental disability. Hydrocephalus can also cause death.

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Make A Wish Foundation

Since 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work. The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish® experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities. The Make-A-Wish Foundation was founded in 1980 after a little boy named Chris Greicius realized his heartfelt wish to become a police officer. Since its humble beginnings, the organization has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 193,000 children around the world. Although it has become one of the world's most well-known charities, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has maintained the grassroots fulfillment of its mission.