Dover girl with cancer pays President Obama a visit

Ta’Kiyah Lucas, a 12-year-old Dover girl who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2007, made a special trip to the White House recently to meet President Barack Obama thanks to the help of Kids Wish Network.

Prior to her diagnosis, Ta’Kiyah used to complain about having headaches. She was taken to the hospital by her Aunt Cherie Solomon, and doctors discovered a malignant tumor on her brain. Ta’Kiyah spent about seven months in the hospital and underwent chemotherapy to treat the tumor. She is currently in remission.

When a friend at the City Council of Dover told Solomon about Kids Wish Network, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses, she was excited about the prospect of having a wish granted for Ta’Kiyah.

Together with the help of wish coordinator Madeline Robinson, wish funding specialist Megan Bielecki and some very special sponsors, Ta’Kiyah was on her way to the nation’s capital. A limo ride; a hotel stay at the beautiful Hay Adams, where Obama stayed prior to the inauguration; dinner at the Hard Rock Café; a trip to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing; and a trip to Southern-style restaurant Georgia Brown’s were also included in Ta’Kiyah’s wish.

“Kids Wish Network is a great place,” said Solomon. “They did all they could to make Ta’Kiyah’s wish come true.”

Ta’Kiyah wanted to visit Obama because she wanted to ask him how it feels to be living in the White House, but her nerves got the best of her.

“I kept covering my eyes. I wasn’t crying. My eyes were just watery that day,” she said.

Solomon said that Ta’Kiyah was nervous when she saw the president, but he told her, “Ta’Kiyah, you can take your hands off your eyes. It’s going to be OK.”

“When he told her it was going to be OK, she calmed down a little, little bit,” Solomon said. “He took the time to embrace her.”

Ta’Kiyah said her favorite part of the whole trip was shaking Obama’s hand and dinner at the Hard Rock Café, where she was made into a rock star.

She also brought a scrapbook to show the president with photos, special certificates and her report card.

“I was very impressed. He really took his time and looked at every picture and asked her what each picture represented,” said Solomon. “Thumbs up to everybody who made this possible for Ta’Kiyah.”

For more information on Kids Wish Network, or to recommend a child who may benefit from its wish-granting services, visit kidswishnetwork.org or call toll free, 888-918-9004.