Nine-year-old Jahyeir Bryant didn’t crack a smile as his excited classmates at Hertford Grammar School threw up their hands and yelled, “Surprise! You’re going to Disney World!”

Instead, he bashfully covered his face and finally agreed to a grin amidst much coaxing from family members, his teacher, and school principal.

Julie Roberts’s third grade class tried to spring a surprise on the youngster last week as volunteers with the Make-A-Wish (MAW) Foundation of Eastern North Carolina visited the classroom for a special Wish Delivery.

Bryant suffered end-stage kidney failure in 2010 and was a candidate for a kidney transplant, explained his mother Andrea Graham. She lovingly donated a kidney to save her son’s life.

He suffered from the kidney disease Nephritis for most of his life.

“He really has gone through a hard time,” said Graham. “I am so thankful his wish was granted.”

Bryant and his family will travel to Disney World for an all expense paid week’s vacation in Florida.

“I’m happy and excited,” Bryant finally admitted, even though he wasn’t surprised. He had already been told of the trip by family members.

Bryant and his parents, along with his younger brother and sister, will fly from Norfolk to Orlando where they will enjoy park hopper passes to the Disney parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios), Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure and Sea World. They will stay at Give Kids the World where pizza and ice cream are readily available for the Wish Kids and their families, said Rose McHale, a volunteer wish granter with MAW.

“At MAW, we understand that the whole family travels the road of a kid’s illness so we feel it is very important that they share every moment of the wish with the Wish Kid,” she said. MAW pays for everything and makes all plans for the family. They even receive a special pin that allows them to be escorted to the front of the line for every ride and every attraction at each park.

Tommy’s Pizza Restaurant in Hertford also treated the family to dinner, added McHale.

While MAW provides special services to the Wish Kid and family, the regional volunteers also treated Bryant’s classmates in a special way as well.

A large colorful cake and fruity juice boxes were shared by classmates who also received gifts from MAW in celebration of Bryant’s Wish Delivery.

Granting wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions in order to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy is the goal of MAW.

Wish referrals are made by parents, medical professionals working with an ill child, or the child. The child’s doctor determines whether or not the child meets MAW medical eligibility and authorizes the child’s specific wish request.

A team of volunteers then visits the child and family to determine the child’s one true wish. The average wish granted costs $6,400. Wishes granted include items a child wishes for or places to visit. Other wishes could be wishing to meet a certain person or becoming a celebrity for a day like a rock star.

This year marks the 25th anniversary for the Eastern North Carolina chapter. The chapter seeks to grant its 2,500th wish by the end of August.

The chapter operates solely through donations of individuals, corporations and foundations. It does not receive any funding from federal or state funds and is not a United Way agency.