Chicken Soup For The American Idol Soul

Excerpt from Nikki McKibbin
Top 10, Season

The 2002 American Idols Live! vacation appeared to be coming over for an end. One regarding our last cities was Seattle, so that as always, we were backstage after the effectiveness mingling together with followers at what on earth is named a new meet-and-greet. I really don't know why, however each time there were little children with the meet-and-greets, that they generally gravitated toward me. Seattle was no different.

Tylee appeared to be the particular cutest bit of girl I'd ever previously seen, using her tan corduroy overalls and small bald scalp from the woman's chemotherapy. Her major brother, Tre, in addition to the girl mom were with her. She ended up being just all 5 several years outdated and currently a huge Idol fan.

From this small your lady w alked in to the meet-and-greet room, your woman couldn't abandon my own side. She hugged me personally as well as kissed my home as we all drew pics together. Whatever the woman disease has been this must be serious, although despite it, the girl ended up being this sort of a new cheery in addition to happy tiny girl.

Although I'm typically weary by the occasion the actual meet-and-greets are usually done, I appeared to be seasonal affective disorder when this town ended due to the fact I were required to claim good-bye to Tylee.

With this excursion over, I headed returning to be able to Dallas in addition to seemed forwards that will spending some time period merely chilling as well as being together with my four-year-old son, Tristen. I'd barely noticed your ex boyfriend over the last three months.

Just as I has been establishing to work out within and obtain many semblance involving normalcy back to my own life, the product rang.

"Nikki McKibbin, please."

"That could be me."

"This is usually the particular Make-A-Wish Foundation(r). There is actually a little bit girl a person met on your American Idols Live! expedition that has been only given an opportunity to create a wish. She mentioned that the girl desire had been to waste a day using you. Her brand will be Tylee, plus many of us do not know should you remember her, although we would always be really appreciative when you might make her wish come true."
"Of course, I remember her," I said. "How could I forget her? She seemed to be therefore adorable."

"If you desire for you to satisfy your ex wish, you have to get for a airplane to Seattle tomorrow. She's not estimated to live through this weekend."

She's not necessarily likely to reside with the weekend? I thought. No, that can not be true!

My mommy plus grandma pitched into help me personally find ready. On the way for the airport in which Saturday morning, I halted in addition to bought jeans of which matched Tylee's tan corduroy overalls.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) set up our own achieving in a hotel suite not necessarily not likely Tylee's hospital. I have no idea of who was additional exited any time I walked in-her or me. Tylee's mom, dad, brother, stepmom, and also granny were almost all there.

I almost couldn't recognize Tylee any time I saw her. Some associated with your girlfriend curly hair had becom e back, in addition to the lady seemed to be most attired up inside cutest little pink frilly dress. Pink need been recently the woman's favourite colouring seeing that she furthermore clutched a new light red Beanie Baby teddy bear in the girl give that will she under no circumstances put down.

"She offers it day and night," the girl mother and father instructed me.

We talked and also laughed and required numerous photographs and videos. We even ate scorching dogs together. She proved me a little bit publication she had manufactured identified as Nikki Notes this included the particular pictures we all have consumed together at the meet-and-greet. She had me write around it.

After some sort of while, Tylee wasn't experience well, so the girl took a nap, and the woman granny plus I travelled shopping. I knew she loved Barbies plus teddy bears, therefore I decided to buy her a new Barbie duvet sleeping bag, Barbie pillow, including a theodore bear. I authorized these individuals all, "Tylee, I adore you."

When we bought back towards the hotel, she seemed to be awake and also sense somewhat better, and so your lady sat on my lap and also all of us attended as a result of her Nikki Notes again. At a single point I gifted your ex a little bit tickle in addition to she laughed, hence I gifted the girl yet another tickle, as well as she improved off my lap in addition to we played around the room trying to play tickle tag.

Her parents plus grandfather and grandmother ended up weighed down having emotion. They claimed they had not seen Tylee hold the strength to experiment with like that will intended for given that that they could remember. They claimed these people experienced as it was the best time of the woman's life.

As we were stating our good-byes, Tylee gone around to help her mummy along with whispered a thing throughout the woman's ear. Her momma blinked again your ex holes a nd said, "Oh course, honey, when that's what you need to do."

Tylee came over along with set it up her pink teddy bear, that one your lady carried with her night and day.

The rain pounded your roof of this cab because I rode to be able to pick up my flight journey home.

Tylee were living a few more weeks.

(Reprinted using agreement from Chicken Soup with regard to that American Idol Soul: Stories from your Idols in addition to their own Fans that Open Your Heart in addition to Make Your Soul Sing).