Sarasota Special Needs Teen Has Her Dream Come True, Receives Pontoon Boat
Charisa McLeod, a Sarasota teen just had her dream come true. Due to her medical conditions, she can’t spend much time at the beach. But a pontoon boat, that would be the perfect solution.
Charisa's mom Autumn McLeod says that Surfing and going to the beach is the McLeod family's favorite pastime, but it’s become increasingly difficult for Charisa to go out on the water. She’s a non-verbal 17-year-old from Sarasota who suffers from Angelman Syndrome and epilepsy.
Charisa's dad, Jacob McLeod says "Charisa has a sensory disorder and she would get the sand on her hands because it feels good and she would rub it in her eyes.
But. This past Saturday.. there was surprise in Bradenton, Charisa has the chance to enjoy the water. Through wish granters and donors, and the Tracker Boating Center… Make a Wish Southern Florida coordinated giving a new pontoon boat to Charisa and her family… .
Make a Wish Southern Florida's Regional Director of the Suncoast Taylor Marini said. "These are the opportunities that we get to give a child l ike Charisa, an opportunity to forget about everything that she’s going through and just focus on families and memories and just to really be a kid again," From shirts and a fishing pole to her name on the back of the boat, all hands were on deck to make her day extra special.
Make a Wish Southern Florida has granted more than13,000 life-changing wishes since 1983 for children who have critical illnesses.