Boatswain's Beach Press Releases

Boatswain’s Beach Grants A Wish

March 20, 2008

Boatswain's Beach, Cayman's premier attraction, became instrumental in bringing happiness to Andrew Kilbarger – a boy who represents one of the most recent triumphs of medical science.

Andrew Kilbarger was only 4 years old when his preschool teacher realized something was terribly wrong. Unlike other children his age, he didn't run or jump, and he couldn't pedal a bike. When his parents had him checked by his pediatrician, even the physician was stunned by the diagnosis: Andrew had Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare, inherited, degenerative muscle disorder that afflicts 30,000 in the U.S., almost exclusively boys.

In 2006, Andrew became the first person to receive experimental gene therapy that aims to restore the muscles of boys suffering with this debilitating and incurable disease. Although the process did not have the potential to reverse his condition, it sought to improve his muscular function.

And so when the team at Boatswain’s Beach heard of his wish, they gladly obliged. "We got a letter from Andrew’s mom, Julie, who requested a tour at the Turtle Farm and we were only happy to accept," shared Joey Ebanks, Acting Managing Director of Boatswain's Beach.

Andrew had a spectacular time at Boatswain’s Beach, where they are always ready to provide warmth for the heart and a true Caymanian experience. Mr Ebanks said, "He was able to experience the adventures of the park where he fed the birds and observed the turtles."

The treatment Andrew received aimed to give him and other patients a better quality of life and to date, that is exactly what Andrew has achieved.