Sixteen-year-old’s one true wish granted

The wish of a 16-year-old from Ohio came true in the South Mississippi sun today. Thanks to Make-A-Wish South Mississippi, a ray of light for a young man battling cystic fibrosis as he and his best friend enjoyed a day in the sun at Gulf Islands Waterpark.
It was a fun filled day at Gulf Island Waterpark for 16-year-old Randy Warner who had family and friends in tow, part of a wish to explore the Mississippi Gulf Coast, granted by Make-A-Wish South Mississippi. “I’m just really excited to be here and to get to go through with it and all. I was waiting for it to happen and the day finally came and we were all really excited. I barely slept the day before because I was so excited. It’s just one of those things you can’t sleep for,” said Randy.
There’s nothing more exciting than catching up with the one person in this world who best understands you. This is what landed Randy here: his one true wish to travel to Mississippi and spend time with his best friend, Andrew Ruiz. “It makes me want to cry, even now thinking about it because I never would have thought that I deserved such a thing or anyone thought that much of me. I mean, I don’t even think of it as me, I think of it just as a friend that just wanted to see another friend and it means a lot to me,” said Andrew.
Randy suffers with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects his lungs and digestive system. It’s a struggle, but mom Regina says he doesn’t let it get him down. “When he wants to do something, he does it. He knows that sometimes it’s going to be a little bit of a setback and getting things done, having to pace himself, but he still goes for anything he wants to do so he definitely does not let it hold him back.”
On tap for the rest of the week is relaxing and exploring Ship Island, experiencing the thrill of riding jet skis and soaking up all South Mississippi has to offer. “I’m just really thankful really and I never thought it would be possible to do without someone helping me like they did,” said Randy.