Park Entertains Make a Wish Foundation Visitors

Everglades National Park helps make "wish come true" for a 14-year-old and his family.

Park staff were proud to be part of making a visit organized by the Make a Wish Foundation a great success for one young man with multiple sclerosis who traveled to the US to make his wish come true. 

Ranger Frankie Aranzamendi led a wonderful tour for Pim (14 years old) and his brother Tomislav (17 years old) Mazurkiewics, their parents and translator.  Though this was Pim's wish, both brothers suffer from the disease and are wheelchair bound, and both enjoyed this special opportunity to see wildlife up close and experience Everglades National Park. 

The visitors were escorted to the Anhinga Trail, as it is quite wheelchair friendly where they too could see wildlife and wander the boardwalk trail.   The excursion ventured out toward the end of the day, which is prime wildlife viewing time.  The trail was active and they were thrilled to see a variety of wading birds coming out to catch their dinner.  The family enjoyed many birds feeding, including the great blue heron, green herons, and anhingas.  There were also quite excited to see so many alligators taking mud baths and chasing each other (territorial). 

The boys particularly enjoyed the immature and adult anhingas showing off their snake-like necks and turkey-like tails, which earn them their two nicknames “snake birds” and turkey birds.”  Other attractions included a pair of wood storks, Florida soft-shell and red-bellied slider turtles, red-winged blackbirds, and fragrant buttonwood flowers.  

Pim and Tom took lots of pictures and Frankie was kept busy answering their many questions.  Members of the group, accompanied by both Aranzamendi and Christian Admiral, district interpreter, were able to take their time discovering the trail, enjoying wildlife and taking lots of pictures.  Afterwards Admiral presented the boys with commemorative superintendent’s coins, junior ranger books and badges, and Dutch translations of the parks information. 

The family was touched and thankful at the warm reception and welcome provided them by the park and expressed special thanks for Frankie’s knowledge and contagious enthusiasm.  Through their translator they told park staff how "it felt great to be here!"