From left, UnitedHealthcare Hawaii Vice President David Heywood, Honorary Consul of Italy Dr. Michele Carbone and Make-a-Wish Hawaii executive director Siana Hunt presented 10-year-old Tedd of Honolulu with gifts at a send-off party at Buca di Beppo.
By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– Ten-year-old Tedd of Honolulu is off exploring Italy with his parents, Ted and Romabeh Cuizon. That was his only wish, and now it has come true, thanks to UnitedHealthcare and Make-a-Wish Hawaii. UnitedHealthcare donated $6,000 to sponsor Tedd’s wish through its national alliance with Make-a-Wish America to support the foundation and its mission of granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Tedd is diagnosed with medullablastoma, a cancer of the brain.
UnitedHealthcare employees threw a send-off part in true Italian style for Tedd and his family members at Buca di Beppo. Dr. Michele Carbone, director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and also the Honorary Consul of Italy, attended the party and gave Tedd an Italian flag pin. Tedd, in return, presented a small Italian flag to Dr. Carbone. Tedd asked Dr. Carbone lots of questions about Italy including where to go, what to see and how to find the best restaurants.
The highlight of the party was when Filipina songstress Lani Misalucha walked into the room and surprised Tedd and his family, who all roared in astonishment. Lani, who is very well known in the Filipino community, sang “Nessun Dorma,” an Italian opera, which left several members of Tedd’s family in tears of joy.
Tedd and his parents are visiting Florence, Rome and Venice.
Filipina singer Lani Misalucha, bottom right, made a surprise appearance at 10-year-old Tedd's send-off party at Buca di Beppo. UnitedHealthcare Hawaii Vice President David Heywood, top left, and Make-a-Wish Hawaii executive director Siana Hunt were on hand to celebrate with Tedd and his family.