Kettering girl’s special wish takes her to LA for the Ellen DeGeneres show

Morgan Cornele, 16, a junior at Fairmont High School in Kettering. The special wish folks made arrangements fro her see Ellen DeGeneres television show on Jan. 26, Ellen's 52nd birthday, Morgan was sitting in the front row in her wheelchair.

Contributed Photo Morgan Cornele, 16, a junior at Fairmont High School in Kettering. The special wish folks made arrangements fro her see Ellen DeGeneres television show on Jan. 26, Ellen's 52nd birthday, Morgan was sitting in the front row in her wheelchair.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Contributed photo Morgan Cornele took a trip to California last month with her mother and two sisters, thanks to A Special Wish Foundation.

ENLARGE PHOTO

While in California on a trip through A Special Wish Foundation, Kettering's Morgan Cornele went shopping and visited the Los Angeles Zoo and the Universal City movie lot.

Contributed photo While in California on a trip through A Special Wish Foundation, Kettering's Morgan Cornele went shopping and visited the Los Angeles Zoo and the Universal City movie lot.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Dale Huffman, Contributing columnist Updated 11:22 PM Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Morgan Cornele is not able to walk, nor speak clearly, and is slowly going blind.

She is 16, a junior at Fairmont High School, and has spent her young life facing one medical challenge after another. Her mind is sharp and alert. But she tells her mother she feels trapped inside a body that is failing her.

One morning when she was 3 years old Morgan woke up from sleeping in her Kettering home and discovered that her life had terribly changed.

The child had suffered a stroke that affected her brain, and was eventually diagnosed with a very rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, along with Leigh’s disease, a disorder which effects the nervous system.

“Morgan has continuously fought very hard to survive,” said her mother Lori Cornele. “Unfortunately she is in a downward spiral, and things keep deteriorating, day by day.”

Yet she communicates with her mother by typing notes on her keyboard, or by speaking in a low and limited way in words only her mother can decipher. In a recent poem, Morgan typed: “I fight because I have to. Some days I might want to give up but I know I can’t. I fight because I am a fighter.”

Morgan has been in a wheel chair since she was 9. About 10 months ago, after a 13-hour brain surgery at Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital she lost her ability to speak clearly. She is now losing her sight, and as part of her treatment, according to her mother, Morgan takes 234 pills each week.

“Her doctors came to us and suggested that they wanted to nominate Morgan for a special wish,” the mother said. “They told us it would be good for Morgan to take a trip and to do something special while she can still enjoy it,”

So the Cornele family was referred to the organization at 436 Valley St. in Dayton known as A Special Wish Foundation. Giving the request immediate attention, Morgan’s wish was approved and arranged.

“She has always enjoyed watching the Ellen DeGeneres television show when she can,” Morgan’s mom said. “The special wish folks made arrangements for us to take our daughter to see the show, and on Jan. 26, Ellen’s 52nd birthday, Morgan was sitting in the front row in her wheelchair,”

The mother, and Morgan’s two sisters, Lauren, 20 and Logan, 12, went along for the trip.

“During the taping Ellen paused at Morgan’s chair, and moved her arms as if dancing with Morgan,” the mother said. “Later during a commercial break she came over and gave Morgan a hug.”

The mother said they were unable to get a photo of Morgan with Ellen, “but it was a wonderful trip, and just to see Morgan smile was a wonderful thing for us. She was so happy that she got tears in her eyes when Ellen’s staff gave her a gift basket of items. After years of doctor’s visits and medicine, and even pain - it was a blessing to see my daughter smile.”

The family also visited the Los Angeles Zoo, the Universal City movie lot, did some shopping, and saw the celebrity stars in the sidewalk near Hollywood and Vine during the week-long vacation.

The mother, Lori Cornele, 42, herself is in remission, after fighting cervical cancer three years ago. She works in billing, for a Dayton doctor, and her husband, Michael, works in the shipping department of a large Cincinnati company. She said they have insurance, but that they had to file bankruptcy when medical bills overwhelmed them.

“But even with so many dark days, this trip to California reminded us that so many people care about others, and that we must always be thankful for the good things that happen,” the mother said. “And we are thankful our family has the strength to handle the tough times.

“We thank the ‘special wish” folks and everyone who has been so kind to our family as we face these tremendous challenges, and Morgan continues to fight so hard.”

She added, “Morgan lights up our lives. We love her so.”

Dale Huffman wants your story ideas. Send e-mail to dhuffman@DaytonDailyNews.com or write to Dale at 1611 S. Main St. Dayton, OH 45409. Phone: (937) 225-2272.

Morgan Cornele, 16, created a poem on her computer after a week long vacation trip to Hollywood. She told her mother she hopes to have a book of her poems published one day. Here is the poem she wrote since her trip. She calls it “The Fight.”

The Fight by Morgan Cornele

“I’m writing to tell you about the fight I go through every single day.

“I fight to get up in the morning.

“I fight to talk.

“I fight to make friends at school.

“I fight to smile when I’m having the worst day ever.

“I fight not to be depressed.

“I fight to be happy - for my family.

“I fight to be an inspiration for others.

“I fight to see - while I still can.

“I fight to be independent and to be like everyone else.

“I fight because I have to. Some days I might want to give up but I know I can’t.

“I fight because I am a fighter.

“And I fight for my rock, my mom, who fights at my side when she has to. I realize the fight is long and hard - but I have no choice. I have to fight with all my might.”

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