Wish comes true on graduation day

By Trisha Marczak (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Friday, May 30, 2008

When a truck pulling a brand-new Crestliner 167 with a four-stroke engine pulled into the Buchholz family driveway in Battle Lake last week, Spencer Buchholz could not believe his eyes.

The arrival of the fishing boat, which was purchased for Spencer by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, was a perfect way to fill the gap between the end of his last day of school and his high school graduation, which took place that night.

Life for Spencer Buchholz has not always been easy. At birth he was diagnosed with Aortic and Mitral Valve Stenosis, a serious heart condition, and has undergone a number of heart surgeries which have interrupted his otherwise normal childhood. Spencer’s countless battles made him a perfect candidate for the non-profit organization.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation, a global charity which awards wishes to children with life-threatening conditions, established its Minnesota chapter in 1982. Over the years, the foundation has granted some 3,000 wishes throughout the state, and has never turned a wish down.

Kids are granted one of four types of wishes. They can wish to take a trip with their family, meet someone famous, have a special something they have always wanted, or choose to be something for the day—like a professional baseball team manager.

The organization receives funding from community, business and individual donations.

Spencer was referred to the organization by an anonymous medical professional in Fargo, where Spencer travels for medical treatment. The family was contacted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation last year, and met with two of the organization’s volunteers.

“I couldn’t believe that this group just gives kids stuff when they ask for it,” Spencer said.

It was during their meeting that Spencer revealed his wish.

“I was thinking about a trip,” Spencer said, “but I thought a boat would be pretty sweet.”

And although he knew that his boat would be coming, he wasn’t given a specific date and time.

The family decided it would be best to put all boat-related discussions under the rug until they knew the exact date of its arrival.

Two weeks before Spencer’s graduation, his parents were let in on the secret. According to his mother, Martha, the timing couldn’t have been better.

“It’s pretty awesome for an 18 year old to have his own boat,” she said. “This was way up there.”

When Spencer was given the keys, he couldn’t believe the dream boat was his.

“It means a lot, I love it,” Spencer said.

Spencer was also given an unlimited supply of bait, which was perfect for the young outdoorsman.

“He hunts and traps, deer hunting and fishing...he loves to fish,” said his father, Scott Buchholz.

Spencer said that, when he’s not working, he’ll be spending most of the summer fishing on area lakes in his brand new boat—and he’ll start as soon as possible.

“It’ll be fun taking my friends out in it,” he said.