11 Year-Old Gets His Wish, Blesses Family & Friends

O'Fallon, IL — Make-A-Wish Illinois and the Home Builders Association of Greater Southwest Illinois, with help from Mark Fulford of Fulford Construction Inc. and tons of subcontractors and vendors, made 11 year-old Evan Saldana's wish come true.

When Evan was 9 years old, he endured a scary and exhausting year-long battle with cancer.

"There are all kinds of horrible things to think about," says Dennis Saldana (Evan's father), "but there are many amazing organizations that come out of the woodwork to assist families and children that have cancer."

One of those was the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Together with the HBA and local contractors, they transformed the unfinished space in the basement into a beautiful home theater center where Evan can enjoy his favorite activities with his favorite people.

When the project was completed, the O'Fallon police and fire departments helped the Saldana family celebrate by providing Evan and his siblings with a police escort and ride home from school in a fire truck for the big reveal.  Representatives from all of the organizations involved in Evan's project waited in the newly-finished basement for Evan to arrive.  Altogether, they celebrated with a reveal party for Evan and his family. 

"It was a huge, huge to-do for him...for us," says Dennis.

Woods Basement Systems would like to thank Evan, the Saldana family, and the Home Builders Association of Greater Southwest Illinois for this great opportunity to serve in the project and celebrate with Evan.

We love you, Evan!