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L i Page A8 ♦ THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ September 6, 2006 durhamregion.com Community helps give Gibson a dream summer Community support helped family buy trailer for sick boy BY JILLIAN FOLLERT Staff Writer DURHAM -- School started again this week, but Gibson Maidansky didn't let that put a damper on the last days of a magical summer. The seven-year-old has spent the last two months in a whirlwind of swimming, marshmallow roasting, frog hunting and bike riding at Dreamland Resort in Hastings Hastings - a place that lives up to the "dream" in its name. Back in June, This Week newspapers introduced readers to Gibson, a rambunctious rambunctious Oshawa student fighting a potentially potentially fatal brain tumour. Doctors found the grapefruit-sized tumour when he was only five, and he underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Last spring, it returned and he was back in hospital for a second surgery and more radiation, which ended in June, Gibson was given a 10 per cent chance of survival with a nine-month life expectancy. expectancy. His parents Yvonne and Dylan and 13- year-old sister Chelsea wanted to make this summer a mémorable one for him, and set out to grant his wish for a trailer at Dreamland Resort, where his cousin and best friend Josh spends his summers. With a $10,000 grant from the Children's Children's Wish Foundation of Canada, they appealed to the community for help rais Jason Liebregts/Metroland Durham Region Media Group Gibson Maidansky, pictured with his mom Y vonne earlier this summer, had his wish of spending the summer with his cousin Josh at Dreamland Resort come true thanks to The Children's Wish Foundation of Canada and community donations. ing the extra $15,000 needed to buy a trailer at Dreamland. ' The response was more than they ever imagined. "Thecommunity was amazing, absolutely absolutely amazing. I can't even put it into words," Ms. Maidansky says. "We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts." Within days of Gibson's story landing on doorsteps across Durham, countless individuals and businesses had rallied around the family. Sunset Heights P.S. where Gibson will attend Grade 1 this fall, raised more than $1,0001 in the few short weeks before school ended in June. Corporations Corporations like Enbridge, Continental Currency Currency Exchange, Primerica and Direct Energy raised thousands, while individuals individuals touched by the story offered what they could - anywhere from $20 to $100. In the end, the family had enough money to purchase a trailer and take possession possession in early July, plenty of time for Gibson to enjoy a fun-filled summer with Josh. "They go out early in the morning and only come back to get a drink or a sandwich," his mom laughs. "Every time I sec him throughout the day he's dirtier and dirtier. It's hard to tell if it's mud or ' chocolate from all the ice cream cones." Gibson and Josh fdl the hours catching frogs and snakes, swimming, biking, fishing fishing and playing manhunt by flashlight. The highlight of the summer came when the. pair found a turtle with a hook caught in its mouth, and rescued it. "Gibson said if it wasn't for him making making that wish the turtle would have died," Ms. Maidansky says. "Now he's a hero." Gibson had his most recent MRI in July and it showed no changes to the . tumour. He is experiencing fatigue from the second round of radiation treatment, but will be starting school with his peers as planned. In the meantime, his family is watching _ for signs of tumour regrowth and "crossing "crossing their fingers and toes" that his MRI in November will bring good news. Whatever the outcome, his mother says this summer is one none of them will forget. "There are simple everyday miracles in watching Gibson enjoy his time without doctors, nurses, 1 hospitals and procedures," she says. "This has been a dream come true." .fgsg Sis jljlijjg thjlhl sliifjii I II P Plilhl sags! M51ÜS4 |o|"S œ X. E li 1 ISlllSsli tthfii <3 ^"8^ S'* £ 15 f S3 1 iÙ P I 5 a 5 "I o ^ ] isghit. Sffllfl £■8^1 ftn Jllflfi] ipfipi |J|J§j-5il laljfs ïfi ÜlflJlfl sr«s>l ill SpjiIp piffPl ill1§ill 1IF^lsSI fit gM lih ■Ct?lE£ P 3»3 dhiiip 52 SsS 6e-| MONUMENTAL EVENT. 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