BOY FINALLY GETTING WISH TO MEET BULLS' JORDAN.Byline: David Greenberg The creator of this article, or someone who has substantially contributed to it, may have a conflict of interest regarding its subject matter. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Daily News Staff Writer Eleven-year-old Roman Chavez loves the Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They play in the National Basketball Association. The team was founded in 1966, and has won six NBA Championships since. - filling his bedroom with posters, caps, trading cards and even a clock from the three-time defending NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= champs - but he idolizes guard Michael Jordan. So when the Make-A-Wish Foundation asked the young muscular dystrophy muscular dystrophy (dĭs`trōfē), any of several inherited diseases characterized by progressive wasting of the skeletal muscles. There are five main forms of the disease. patient what he wanted most in the world, Roman didn't hesitate for a second: He wanted to meet Jordan. It's taken two years to arrange it, but Roman's perseverance has paid off. He and his family will be traveling to Chicago this week to visit with the basketball superstar. ``I waited two years and it was worth it,'' said Roman, who is afflicted af·flict tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on. [Middle English afflighten, from afflight, with the most debilitating de·bil·i·tat·ing adj. Causing a loss of strength or energy. Debilitating Weakening, or reducing the strength of. Mentioned in: Stress Reduction form of muscular dystrophy. ``He (Jordan) makes me feel good and happy.'' The foundation, which fulfills the dreams of children with life-threatening illness, said Jordan meets 10 Make-A-Wish families twice a year - once in the spring and once in the fall. ``Little Roman's been on the list since January 1997 and his number finally came up. I've been doing this for three years and this is the only wish I've had to wait for,'' said Anne Gregory, the wish coordinator for the agency's Tri-Counties chapter, one of 81 nationwide. During its fiscal year that ended Aug. 31, the local chapter granted wishes to 44 youngsters from Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo (săn l  `ĭs ōbĭs`pō), city (1990 pop. 41,958), seat of San Luis Obispo co., S Calif., near San Luis Obispo Bay; inc. 1856. counties, Gregory said. It costs an average of $3,000 for air fare, hotels, food and souvenir money to grant each wish. About 80 percent of the youths choose a trip to Disneyland or Walt Disney World Noun 1. Walt Disney World - a large amusement park established in 1971 to the southwest of Orlando Orlando - a city in central Florida; site of Walt Disney World , she said, adding that her office is currently working to fulfill the wishes of 10 Ventura County youths. Roman has never seen the Chicago Bulls play live, but he watches the team's games on television, surrounded by memorabilia from his favorite team. He plans to take his trading cards with him to show to Jordan. ``First I will ask him to autograph my cards,'' Roman said. ``Then I would like to take a picture with him. And I will tell him what a good player he is.'' Roman was diagnosed at age 4 with Duchennes muscular dystrophy, which causes the progressive wasting away of his muscle tissue. He has used a wheelchair since age 9, but exercises daily at home to maintain flexibility and slow muscle deterioration. ``That's all we can do for him right now,'' said Concepsion, Roman's mother. ``There is no medication for him.'' |
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