Boise Child Captures a Villian
I hear it said so often how bad-intentioned people are, and every time I do, I think about the time chanel19 saw eight lanes of Beltway rush hour traffic come to a stop because a mother goose and her goslings were trying to cross the road. I think people are basically good, but it seems like unless it's a slow news day, we don't see these stories highlighted so much by the media. So I try to keep an eye out for them.
Here's a good one.
Local News: The Idaho Statesman:
The imagination of the Cole Elementary first-grader came to life Friday when the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho, Windermere Real Estate and others orchestrated Aubrey's wish to be a superhero for a day.
Aubrey, aka "Star," has optic glioma, a brain tumor behind her eyes. But it didn't stop her as she foiled crimes and chased her arch-nemesis, Black (named for the character on Neighborhood Watch signs), through the city of Boise, followed by a cavalcade of police cars.
With a determined look on her face, Aubrey used her super powers of X-ray vision, super strength, fast speed and blowing power to rescue a hostage from Black's grip and tie the villain to the replica Liberty Bell in front of the Statehouse at about noon.
Hundreds of fans cheered her on.
"I'd like to thank you for your extreme bravery in capturing Black," Mayor David Bieter said on the Statehouse steps after Black's arrest.
"You have shown extraordinary crime-fighting skills," Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson said before presenting her with a custom-made police uniform, badge and all.
Bieter proclaimed June 16 Make-A-Wish Day and Star Day, and swore her in as an honorary Boise police officer.
Aubrey also received a medal and pin from the city.
Making A Wish Come True
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho has been working on Aubrey's wish to be a superhero for a day since January.
"We have four categories of wishes, and 'I Wish to Be' is the most rare," Executive Director Marcia Karakas said.
This is the first time in at least 10 years that a "Be" wish has been received in the Idaho office, which serves the state's lower 35 counties.
Unlike wishes to "Go," "Meet" or "Have," the "Be" wish allows the community to be more involved in making the wish come true.
Wish partner Windermere Real Estate had 100 percent participation from its 150 employees at two Boise offices.
Aubrey's wish blossomed to include the Idaho Historical Museum, Boise State University, Saint Alphonsus Life Flight, Fairly Reliable Bob's, Gowen Field Fire and Rescue, Zoo Boise, the mayor's office, and the city's police, fire and parks departments.
Aubrey received a phone call from the original Batman, Adam West, and local artist Kelly Knopp is creating a comic book for Aubrey.
Area 02, a local production company, filmed the events of Aubrey's wish, and there will be a red-carpet premiere of the film at the Egyptian Theatre in the fall.
"It's crazy! It's cool! You guys are so hooked up!" Aubrey's mother, Elisa Matthews, told Make-A-Wish and Windermere staff.
About two dozen Boise police officers also participated in the wish. Most volunteered on their day off.
"Everybody is very gung-ho to make this her best day," Officer Shelli Sonnenberg said. "She's fighting this tumor, and she is a hero in her own right. It's a pleasure serving her."
"I'm overwhelmed with all the time that people have put into this," Aubrey's father, Dave Matthews, said. "The whole day is centered around her, and it's just awesome. This is truly a dream come true for her."
When the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho asked Aubrey what her wish would be, she knew right away.
"She truly loves superheroes," Elisa Matthews said.
"She cares about others, and she's always been this way," Dave Matthews said.
Aubrey made up other superheroes to help her fight crimes in scripted scenes on her special day. She equipped Lion Lady, Frog Lady, Dog Man, House Lifter, Sky Girl, Martian Manhunter and Tree Girl with their own superpowers. A script assisted heroes and police as the drama played out, but Aubrey always knew what to say because she loves to play superhero with friends.
Aubrey also provided the design inspiration for each of their costumes, including her own costume in her favorite color, blue.
"I think she's brought out the child in all of us," said Jessie Gillingham, volunteer coordinator for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho.
A Hero in Her Own Right
Aubrey was just 6 months old when she was diagnosed with Optic Glioma, after her parents noticed she had a nystagmus, or jittery eye.
The tumor is inoperable because of its location in the center of her brain and the way it grew into her optic nerve and against her hypothalmus, Dave Matthews said.
"Ever since she was diagnosed, I try to enjoy every day with her," Elisa Matthews said. "Life is just precious, and you can't blow it away. You have to take it for what it is, no matter what it is."
Follow-up MRI scans showed evidence of the tumor growing, so Aubrey began 15 months of chemotherapy when she was 15 months old.
The tumor stabilized for three and a half years, but last July it started to grow again, Elisa Matthews said.
A second round of chemotherapy began in August and was completed in January. The tumor "is shrinking some - we're happy," Dave Matthews said.
Doctors "had expected her to be a lot more ill than she was," Elisa Matthews said.
Aubrey has not lost her hair and has maintained her white blood cell count.
It could be the super powers.
Here's a good one.
Local News: The Idaho Statesman:
The imagination of the Cole Elementary first-grader came to life Friday when the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho, Windermere Real Estate and others orchestrated Aubrey's wish to be a superhero for a day.
Aubrey, aka "Star," has optic glioma, a brain tumor behind her eyes. But it didn't stop her as she foiled crimes and chased her arch-nemesis, Black (named for the character on Neighborhood Watch signs), through the city of Boise, followed by a cavalcade of police cars.
With a determined look on her face, Aubrey used her super powers of X-ray vision, super strength, fast speed and blowing power to rescue a hostage from Black's grip and tie the villain to the replica Liberty Bell in front of the Statehouse at about noon.
Hundreds of fans cheered her on.
"I'd like to thank you for your extreme bravery in capturing Black," Mayor David Bieter said on the Statehouse steps after Black's arrest.
"You have shown extraordinary crime-fighting skills," Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson said before presenting her with a custom-made police uniform, badge and all.
Bieter proclaimed June 16 Make-A-Wish Day and Star Day, and swore her in as an honorary Boise police officer.
Aubrey also received a medal and pin from the city.
Making A Wish Come True
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho has been working on Aubrey's wish to be a superhero for a day since January.
"We have four categories of wishes, and 'I Wish to Be' is the most rare," Executive Director Marcia Karakas said.
This is the first time in at least 10 years that a "Be" wish has been received in the Idaho office, which serves the state's lower 35 counties.
Unlike wishes to "Go," "Meet" or "Have," the "Be" wish allows the community to be more involved in making the wish come true.
Wish partner Windermere Real Estate had 100 percent participation from its 150 employees at two Boise offices.
Aubrey's wish blossomed to include the Idaho Historical Museum, Boise State University, Saint Alphonsus Life Flight, Fairly Reliable Bob's, Gowen Field Fire and Rescue, Zoo Boise, the mayor's office, and the city's police, fire and parks departments.
Aubrey received a phone call from the original Batman, Adam West, and local artist Kelly Knopp is creating a comic book for Aubrey.
Area 02, a local production company, filmed the events of Aubrey's wish, and there will be a red-carpet premiere of the film at the Egyptian Theatre in the fall.
"It's crazy! It's cool! You guys are so hooked up!" Aubrey's mother, Elisa Matthews, told Make-A-Wish and Windermere staff.
About two dozen Boise police officers also participated in the wish. Most volunteered on their day off.
"Everybody is very gung-ho to make this her best day," Officer Shelli Sonnenberg said. "She's fighting this tumor, and she is a hero in her own right. It's a pleasure serving her."
"I'm overwhelmed with all the time that people have put into this," Aubrey's father, Dave Matthews, said. "The whole day is centered around her, and it's just awesome. This is truly a dream come true for her."
When the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho asked Aubrey what her wish would be, she knew right away.
"She truly loves superheroes," Elisa Matthews said.
"She cares about others, and she's always been this way," Dave Matthews said.
Aubrey made up other superheroes to help her fight crimes in scripted scenes on her special day. She equipped Lion Lady, Frog Lady, Dog Man, House Lifter, Sky Girl, Martian Manhunter and Tree Girl with their own superpowers. A script assisted heroes and police as the drama played out, but Aubrey always knew what to say because she loves to play superhero with friends.
Aubrey also provided the design inspiration for each of their costumes, including her own costume in her favorite color, blue.
"I think she's brought out the child in all of us," said Jessie Gillingham, volunteer coordinator for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Idaho.
A Hero in Her Own Right
Aubrey was just 6 months old when she was diagnosed with Optic Glioma, after her parents noticed she had a nystagmus, or jittery eye.
The tumor is inoperable because of its location in the center of her brain and the way it grew into her optic nerve and against her hypothalmus, Dave Matthews said.
"Ever since she was diagnosed, I try to enjoy every day with her," Elisa Matthews said. "Life is just precious, and you can't blow it away. You have to take it for what it is, no matter what it is."
Follow-up MRI scans showed evidence of the tumor growing, so Aubrey began 15 months of chemotherapy when she was 15 months old.
The tumor stabilized for three and a half years, but last July it started to grow again, Elisa Matthews said.
A second round of chemotherapy began in August and was completed in January. The tumor "is shrinking some - we're happy," Dave Matthews said.
Doctors "had expected her to be a lot more ill than she was," Elisa Matthews said.
Aubrey has not lost her hair and has maintained her white blood cell count.
It could be the super powers.