Dream Foundation Fulfills Architecture-Student’s Final Dream to Visit Iconic Building
Santa Barbara, CA – Dream Foundation – the first and largest national wish-granting organization for adults and their families suffering life-threatening illness – will fulfill Charles Huizar’s final wish to visit Fallingwater, a famous home built over a waterfall that was designed by esteemed architect and Huizar’s personal hero, Frank Lloyd Wright. Fallingwater is largely considered Wright’s most celebrated work, and is now a National Historic Landmark.
At 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 19, Huizar, his mother and sister will be hosted at Fallingwater, in Mill Run, PA, where they will receive a private tour of the home and grounds.
Huizar, 21, of Austin, Texas, has been diagnosed with end-stage rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of childhood muscle cancer he had already battled – and beaten – twice in the last three years. This time his prognosis is terminal; his doctors have said six months or less.
As his illness has progressed, Huizar has had to withdraw from his studies in the architecture program at the University of Texas at Austin – relinquishing his dream of higher education and a future career in the field of architectural engineering.
“Wright is the person who inspired me to seek my degree,” Huizar writes in an application letter to Dream Foundation, “and Fallingwater is my favorite building designed by him.”
Though devastated he’s lost the “golden ticket” to his future, as he calls it, Huizar remains passionate about the field of architecture and mesmerized by Wright’s renowned creations. His mother says his favorite pasttime now is to time himself to see how fast he can build the LEGO block version of the 5,330-square foot structure.
Due to mounting medical costs and other financial constraints, Huizar would never have been able to make the trip without the assistance of Dream Foundation.
“Dreams for young adults, like Charles, are often about experiencing a dream job at a time when career aspirations have been indefinitely posponed,” said Dream Foundation representative, Erinn Lynch. “We are honored to be able to bring Charles to a place of significant meaning. His optimism and strengh inspires us just as the work of Frank Lloyd Wright inspires him.”