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A dream come true

A boy with leukemia gets his wish to visit Legoland in California.

Staff photo by John Ceballos

Joshua Gandy plays with some of the Lego blocks in his room. Gandy, 7, was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia last year. The Children's Dream Fund sent Gandy and his family to the Legoland theme park in late October.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS | South Shore News & Tribune

Published: October 28, 2009

APOLLO BEACH - Joshua Gandy has Lego trucks, planes and an entire community of blockheaded characters that keep him company in his room.

"My brother played with them before me, but I've been playing with them since I was 3," Joshua said.

The 7-year-old became better acquainted with his diminutive friends thanks to an organization dedicated to making dreams come true.

The Children's Dream Fund sent Joshua, his older brother, Jarrod, 12, and his parents, Renee and Lee, to California for a four-day trip highlighted by a visit to the Legoland theme park.

Joshua was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Nov. 14.

"I got bronchitis last October and Josh got it right after me, so I took him to the doctor," his mom said. "We noticed he'd been pretty lethargic, too."

"They told us his spleen was enlarged and that he had a 5-inch-long, 2-inch-wide tumor on his chest," Lee Gandy said. "On a 6-year-old, that practically takes up the entire chest.

The Gandys immediately began treatment for Joshua at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa.

"Out of those first 180 days, he spent 98 in a hospital," Lee said.

Not too long after that, they were approached by Kristin Bedinghaus, dream coordinator for the Children's Dream Fund.

The nonprofit organization was founded in 1981 and seeks to fulfill the wishes of children in West Central Florida with life-threatening diseases.

"We work very closely with social workers and hospital staff and that's how we became aware of Joshua and his family," Bedinghaus said.

Joshua came up with a wish list, which included a Disney cruise, a trip to Telluride, Colo., to see snow and a visit to Legoland, which features more than 50 rides, shows and attractions.

The Gandys left Apollo Beach Oct. 22 and visited the park the following two days before returning home Oct. 25.

On top of the two-day passes, the family celebrated Halloween early at the park's Brick or Treat Trail event and received a tour with a master builder.

Joshua's treatment is expected to last about three more years. He presently takes chemotherapy pills every day and visits St. Joseph's once a week.

"Right now, I'm feeling good," Joshua said.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 627-4762.

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