1st Dream Trip 2012 - Los Angeles, CA
With the assistance of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, our 1st Dream Trip was awarded to an amazing 9 year old boy named Aref Abdala. Aref was diagnosed in 2011 with a rare form of cancer, Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma, and underwent 14 chemotherapies, 31 proton radiations and 10 lung radiations. He and his family traveled on his Dream Trip to California in March and visited various theme parks and landmarks. He had the time of his life.
As a precautionary measure, Aref has follow-up appointments every 6 months. Unfortunately, his last visit revealed a new tumor. The tumor has now been removed and soon he has begun chemotherapy. The treatment will last 12 months (one per month).
One thing that really sets Aref apart from other kids is his personality and zest for life. He never meets a stranger and continues to have a positive outlook on life. JNF could not have chosen a better candidate to send on the 1st Dream Trip. He is the perfect representative of our cause. You can view JNF’s video presented at its inaugural White Party held in South Florida, on May 19, 2012, which featured Aref’s Dream Trip award and trip to California by clicking here.
