T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Five-year-old Aibe Shreve, center, of St. Clairsville is recovering from pulmonary hypertension of the lungs and open heart surgery. He and his family are looking forward to a trip to Disney World this fall, made possible by A Special Wish Foundation and its community partners. Shown from front left are Paul Foster of the Independent Insurance Agents Group of Belmont County; Aibe; Clay Bethel of Bethel and Foster Insurance; and Scott Carnes of M.C. Thomas Insurance. Standing, from left, are Matt Steel of Steel Insurance; Special Wish board President Travis Clark; Mike and Reba Shreve, Aibe’s parents; John Campbell of Campbell Insurance; A Special Wish Executive Director Annmarie O’Grady; and Razmine Rouse, St. Clairsville branch manager at Belmont Savings Bank.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Shreve family of St. Clairsville will be taking young son Aibe to Walt Disney World this fall, thanks to A Special Wish Foundation — Ohio Valley Chapter and its partners.

Officials made the announcement Wednesday at Belmont Hills Country Club with a donation of $5,000.

Aibe Shreve is battling pulmonary hypertension of the lungs. He underwent a heart catheter procedure when he was 2 years old. He also went into cardiac arrest.

“He also had open-heart surgery almost two years ago to close two (ventricular septal defect) holes in his heart,” his mother, Reba Shreve, said. “We were told he wouldn’t make it past age 4, and he’s going on age 5 and he’s doing great.”

She said since his open heart surgery, Aibe has shown no traces of pulmonary hypertension. He enjoys sports and other activities and is looking forward to seeing Buzz Lightyear and other Disney characters.

Annmarie O’Grady, executive director of the local Special Wish chapter, said the organization has hit the ground running in granting wishes as soon as the waning COVID-19 pandemic allowed.

“It’s great to be able to get back to doing what we’re meant to do. With COVID last year, we were not able to grant any wishes, and this year we’ve already granted two wishes,” she said, adding another wish will be granted Saturday at the Blame My Roots country music festival.

“It’s great to be able to grant the wishes again, see the kids smile and happy,” she said. “Our wish children endure so much, and the wish family, too.”

O’Grady said five wishes have carried over from last year; two wishes have been granted and a third child is undergoing treatments before being able to receive their wish.

“And there are new wishes coming in we’ve already approved for this year,” she said.

O’Grady said fortunately during 2020, none of the children scheduled for a wish became too sick to receive it.

“That’s always a fear,” she said. “We’re dealing with kids that have illnesses. Our saying is ‘some wishes can’t wait’ and, unfortunately, last year they had to. It couldn’t be helped.”

She emphasized the importance of community partnerships. She said the corporate partnership with Belmont Savings Bank and sponsorship by the Independent Insurance Association of Belmont County made the wish granting possible. The charitable motorcycle riders Hoagy’s Heroes and Harvey Goodman Realtor are the organization’s community partners.

This is Belmont Savings Bank’s fifth year working with A Special Wish.

“We’re familiar with what they do, so we enjoy helping them out every year,” Razmine Rouse, manager of the St. Clairsville branch, said.

“Part of our mission is to help residents, clients, anybody in need in Belmont County,” Paul Foster, secretary-treasurer of the Independent Insurance Agents Group of Belmont County, said. “This is our first time working with them. … We look forward to an ongoing relationship with them.”

For more information about A Special Wish, call the office at 740-449-2063 or visit spwishov.org.