Teen with cancer gets shoes, shirts as part of dream request

A 15-year-old Tampa boy with a rare form of cancer fulfilled his dreams today. They were simple: a shopping spree at University Mall in Tampa.

Kelvin Lozada Perez was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia in December and is undergoing treatment at All Children's Hospital. His shopping trip took place today through the Children's Dream Fund, a nonprofit organization that fulfills wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.

"We are thankful that Kelvin is feeling well and ready to shop," Kristin Bedinghaus, the organization's coordinator, said in a news release. "Dreams are the best medicine."

Kelvin and his parents, Matilda and Sixto, were picked up in a limousine from their home in Tampa and dropped off at the mall on East Fowler Avenue.

His first purchase: a pair of Converse black high-top sneakers followed by cologne, T-shirts and sunglasses from a kiosk. He scarfed down a soda in the food court and then bought more shirts and a pair of Michael Jordan slip-on sandals.

By noon, the teen was meandering through Burlington Coat Factory and piling all kinds of clothes into a shopping cart. By the end of the day, he was pushing a shopping cart heaped with stuff, including an X-Box and a couple of games.

"It went great," he said. "It was one of the best days of my life. I got everything I wanted."

On the trek, he picked up some gift cards that he plans to give to his parents, he said.

In addition to the money provided by the organization, at least $1,000, some stores in the mall made donations, Bedinghaus said.

"Our goal is to just get the most for him to make the day the most special as possible," she said. "We want to create memories that will last a lifetime."

The Children's Dream Fund, based in St. Petersburg, has been granting wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses in the Bay area since 1981.