EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- Juan Ortiz (center), 15, checks out his bedroom that was remodeled courtesy of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, including Scott volunteers. The volunteers painted the walls, put together new furniture, window treatments and hung a ceiling fan. (Courtesy Photo)
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- Juan Ortiz's finished bedroom on display right before Juan comes home from spending the day at the 5th Walk for Wishes day. Volunteers from Scott and the local community came together and painted the walls, put together new furniture, window treatments and hung a ceiling fan. (Courtesy Photo)
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. -- Volunteers from SouthWestern Illinois College paint a mural on Juan Ortizs wall as part of his Make-A Wish. Volunteers from Scott and the local community came together and painted the walls, put together new furniture, window treatments and hung a ceiling fan. (Courtesy Photo)
3/30/2011 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Juan Ortiz may seem like your average teenager. He enjoys eating pizza and chocolate, taking his dog for walks and riding his bike.
But he is not your typical teen; the 15-year-old from East St. Louis, Ill., is battling a brain tumor. When asked recently to dream big, the teen wanted to have his room redecorated.
A few weeks ago, Juan's dream came true with the help of wish granting volunteers, Senior Master Sgt. Victor Dorsey, a member of Air Mobility Command's A4, his wife, Brita Dorsey, Todd Lunge, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Along with the help of 15 volunteers from the Lewis Lynch Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, the Buffalo Soldier Motorcycle Club, personnel from AMC A4, U.S. Transportation Command and the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (TACC) and students from Southwestern Illinois College's Art Department, the volunteers transformed Juan's room in 10 hours.
Surprised at the 5th Annual Walk for Wishes, an event aimed at raising funds to help grant wishes to local children, Juan originally thought he was being the wish child featured in the event. But during the event Juan was brought on stage and told by Sergeant Dorsey that his wish would be granted and a team of volunteers were redecorating his room at that moment.
Returning home Juan was taken aback by the transformation in his room saying it was way better than he could have imagined.
The volunteers painted the walls, put together new furniture, window treatments and hung a ceiling fan.
