Flagler Sheriff grants wish for Palm Coast boy with cerebral palsy

FCSO partnered with the Kids Wish Network, who also granted Phillip Neal's wish to go to Walt Disney World.

  • By Paige Wilson
  • | 5:17 p.m. January 10, 2019
  • Palm Coast Observer
  • Neighbors
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Eight-year-old Phillip Neal Jr. wants to be a cop one day. He would also like to eat doughnuts whenever he wants.

On Thursday, Jan. 10, both of those wishes came true for the Palm Coast boy, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Dunkin’ Donuts and the Kids Wish Network came together for a wish reveal inside the Dunkin’ Donuts on Old Kings Road.

Phillip walked into the store in a full police officer uniform — hat, sunglasses and all — and soon shook hands with Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly, who presented Phillip with a bag of FCSO goodies, a hat, a Centennial Challenge Coin, a certificate and a badge, making him an "honorary deputy" with the department.

"Of course, it's ironic that everyone thinks cops live for doughnuts," Sheriff Staly said. "It's not the case with this sheriff, but I can't tell you I've never been at a doughnut shop, because I have. But I look forward to sharing a special doughnut with Phillip."

Dunkin’ Donuts store manager Jhailyn Polonia came over to the decorated table where a box of unfrosted donuts sat for Phillip and his family to decorate. She had good news for Phillip; he was granted a year's supply of doughnuts.

When Phillip opened the box of donuts, there was a message on the inside of the box that he softly read aloud. It sparked yet another big smile. He was going to Walt Disney World, courtesy of the Kids Wish Network.

"It's amazing," Phillip's grandmother Cynthia White said. "He's been so excited about it. ... He's very shy, but he'll talk about this the rest of the day to us, I'm sure."

This was the first time FCSO was able to partner with the Kids Wish Network, Staly said.

"It's a great opportunity for us to give back into the community and help a little guy out," he said.

White, a Flagler Schools school bus driver, got emotional as she watched Phillip decorate the doughnuts following the wish reveal.

"This means so much to him," she said. "He always asks me, 'Can we go to Disney?' My dad lives in Tampa and we go through Orlando, and we've always wanted to go."

 Visit https://www.kidswishnetwork.org.

 

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