Make A Wish Foundation changes local child’s life

WEST MONROE, La. (KNOE)—On Thursday, Nov. 7, the Make-A-Wish Foundation changed the life of a local child, Thomas Riles.

The life of 11-year-old Thomas Riles has been far from ordinary. Thomas at the age of just ten-days-old learned how to persevere through adversity after his first open heart surgery. Now at 11 years old with Congenital Heart Disease, he has undergone four open heart surgeries successfully.

After health challenges occurred, Thomas' parents felt the best choice for him would be homeschooling at Faith Academy. Make-A-Wish Foundation heard about the challenges Thomas and his family had endured and wanted to give him a gift that would be life-changing.

Make-A-Wish came to Asbury Methodist Church in West Monroe after two years of preparation to present the gift to Thomas and his family. Thomas' special day began with a Hawaiian themed scavenger hunt with family, food, and games.

"I knew Thomas was special the day that I met him. His ability and willingness to fight through health challenges show how remarkable he truly is. Once Make-A-Wish heard his story, we wanted to give him and his family some relief from the day to day challenges," says Shannon Barr, Make-A-Wish Foundation volunteer.

At the end of the scavenger hunt and taking a final guess for the gift, he pulled out a rock from a gift back and was amazed. Thomas and his family will be taking a trip to meet his favorite former wrestler and actor, Dewayne "The Rock" Johnson.

" My son has been a fighter since birth and so just to see one of his wishes come true is a blessing. My wife and I are just honestly speechless," says Justin Riles, the father of Thomas Riles.

Thomas says he is grateful for the chance to meet "The Rock" and to take a vacation in Hawaii.