ORLANDO, Fla. – For 18-year-old Tripp Clunan and his family, a week of fishing in Cabo San Lucas is more than a vacation, it’s a rare chance for joy after years defined by medical challenges.
“Tripp is medically complex, which means since birth, he has been hospitalized and in surgeries and emergencies... and, you know, for his entire life,” said his mother, Kate Clunan.
Tripp has congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), a rare disorder that causes the body to fail to regulate breathing signals properly, even during rest. When he was born, only about 600 cases were diagnosed worldwide.
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“This trip is really their time to be a family together again, to have those memories, to have this experience together, away from hospitals, away from treatment schedules, away from doctors, and just really spend that quality time together if they really much deserve it,” said Anne Cuba, CEO of Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida.
Tripp’s younger sister, Madison, shared what the trip means emotionally.
“It means the world to me to just see a smile on my brother’s face for once. He’s always frustrated. He’s always upset. He’s always sick. And it’s just the week for him to be happy for once,” she said.
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The family’s wish was granted through a partnership between Wesley Pharmaceuticals and Make-A-Wish Central and Northern Florida. The celebration included fishing tips from Captain Tyler Woolcott and special gifts for Tripp.
“We’re so happy to be able to do something for another family. We always want to give back because of our family focus and because our employees are very much that way, too,” said Stan Loomis, co-founder of Wesley Pharmaceuticals.
Tripp and his family will spend the week enjoying their wish in Cabo, making memories that extend beyond the hospital walls.