HBI

Dalton Walker
dwalker@harrisburginfo.com

July 02. 2009 11:29AM

Brian McCracken has been playing on his wooden swing set ever since the five-year-old received a Rainbow Play System through the Make-A-Wish Foundation in May.
McCracken was born with a gastrol-related condition that affects his blood flow. He was later diagnosed with stable liver disease, which will more than likely force him to undergo transplant surgery by the age of 10.

After back and forth trips from Harrisburg to Omaha, Neb., for treatment, Nick McCracken said, doctors recommended Brian to the Make-A-Wish program.

“We are very thankful,” the elder McCracken said. “We always wanted a playground for them to be able to play on. They love to go the park, and now we have it.”

The play set was decided upon after members from the foundation spoke with Brian, Nick McCracken said.

“The one thing he really wanted was a twirly slide,” said Roxanne Kasa, program services director at Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota.

“We’re grateful,” Nick McCracken said. “We really couldn’t afford to get it.”

With the gift, the McCracken family can cut back on the trips up north to visit parks in Sioux Falls. Brian has two younger siblings.

The family lives in the Harrisburg Homesites Addition on the north side of town. Homesites is currently in the process of getting a park of its own.

The play set sits in the family backyard. It easily towers over other nearby play sets.
Although the gift came from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, John and Hen Timmer of Sioux Falls had a big role in the play system.

The John and Hen Timmer family is made up of five children and 12 grandchildren. And for the second time, the family donated money to Make-A-Wish instead of buying one another birthday and Christmas gifts.

The McCracken family invited the Timmer family over for a gathering when the play set was delivered.

“The family was so appreciative in what was given to them,” John Timmer said. “They were just elated with what they got. It’s nice to be able to give something.”