Gift gives ailing girl place to play

GIBBON, Neb. — “Holy cow,” Isabelle Warrington, 4, said giggling as she tried out her new swing set for the first time.

Isabelle, who's called Izzy, got a big surprise when she came home from day care one recent evening: A play set had been built in her family's yard through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Izzy's doctors diagnosed her with minimal change disease, a kidney disorder that can cause protein in the urine. She has been going through tests and medications since she was 2½.

Doctors mentioned Make-A-Wish to Izzy's parents, Dan and Jamie Warrington, so they applied.

“It has been wonderful. It's amazing that they can do this for her,” Jamie said. “Every time we go to Omaha, we try to make our trips at least a little fun since we don't really have time for a vacation between all the doctors. This is great because it will always be here and she loves playing outside.”

When Jamie and Izzy arrived home on the evening the play set was unveiled, a crowd of friends and family waited to see her reaction to the play structure. She was blindfolded on the drive, and at first when she took off the blindfold, the sight of the play set and the people watching her was overwhelming.

“She knew she was going to get a playground, but I don't think it was real to her. She still didn't believe it was hers even after she saw it,” said Dayla Rhodus, a Make-A-Wish volunteer.

After just a few minutes, Izzy ran down the hill to the play set and began swinging. “I just had a baby swing before,” she said, laughing. “It was silly because everyone came out to my house. They all drove to my house.”

Dan Warrington is a Kearney Police Department officer, and Jamie works at the Buckle corporate offices in Internet merchandising. The couple also have an 11-month-old son, Braxton.

Doctors first noticed a problem with Izzy in January 2009. She's been through several medications and a biopsy.

“Ever since the biopsy last summer, we have not been able to get her into remission,” Jamie said.

Izzy often complains of stomach pain, but Jamie said they aren't sure whether it's from the illness or the medication. Without treatment, she could have progressive kidney damage.

Next month, the family will travel to Texas for an opinion from another doctor.

“We're basically out in the desert right now reaching and trying to find whatever will help.”

Jamie said the play set was a good fit for Izzy.

“Every time we drove by a house with a play set it was, ‘Can I have a slide? I want a slide.' That was all she talked about,” she said.

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