Disney wish comes true for North Carolina boy mauled by dogs
WAKE COUNTY, North Carolina -- A wish is coming true for a young boy who has been through a life-altering struggle after getting attacked by two dogs in North Carolina.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is sending 4-year-old Ryder Wells and his family to Walt Disney World.
"We are extremely grateful and appreciative super, super, super, super, excited," mom Brittany Wells said. "It doesn't feel real yet."
Ryder's struggle began when he was 22 months old on a Thanksgiving visit with family friends in Raleigh.
Two Rotweillers attacked Ryder.
"He almost lost his life," Brittany Wells said. "He completely lost the left side of his face, along with many other injuries. And so over the past three years, we've completely worked on reconstructing his face and get his skin back on."
The local Make-A-Wish chapter has granted 3,600 wishes to children dealing with a critical illness.
"This is a chance for them to celebrate all that he has overcome, and have time away from doctor's appointments, hospital visits, needles all the painful and not great stuff, to just relax and spend time as a family," said Laura Jasmine, of Make-A-Wish of Eastern North Carolina.
Ryder's mom says the Disney trip comes at a great time, as Ryder is getting a break from years of surgery.
"We still have a lot to repair in the cheek, and we will address that in July," she said. "But we are just going to let Ryder be Ryder and get the good break that I'm ready for, and I know he is too."
The Wells family will travel to Florida next week, and they will celebrate Ryder's fifth birthday on Tuesday.
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