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Special to the Journal-World

Rose Naughtin, a senior at Free State High School, has overcome two heart transplants. In June, the Dream Factory granted her wish to study abroad in Oxford, England. The Dream Factory is struggling to gain a foothold in Lawrence.

By the time Rose Naughtin was 12, she was on her third heart.

Today, five years after her second heart transplant, the 17-year-old Free State High School senior is looking forward to college and is reflecting on a dream trip.

Rose spent part of her summer studying religion, art history and international relations at Oxford University, an experience provided by the Dream Factory.

"I'll never forget the experience. It's so different from anything else I've ever done," Rose said.

The centuries-old college town has some resemblance to Lawrence, she said, and the scholarly program gave her opportunities to mingle with new friends from diverse places such as India, Cyprus and the Dominican Republic.

At age 4, Rose's heart began to deteriorate. She received her first heart transplant that year, then another when she was 12. She qualified to be granted a wish by the Dream Factory, the nation's second-largest wish-granting organization, when she was 5.

The Dream Factory assists children ages 3 to 18 who have been diagnosed with critical or chronic diseases. But it wasn't until Rose was recovering from her second heart transplant that she thought about requesting a dream. And when she thought about it, the choice was easy.

"I pretty much knew I wanted to do something at Oxford," which has seen students such as Bill Clinton, Christopher Wren and Benazir Bhutto walk its halls, Rose said. "I've just always been interested in going to England, and it's just one of the top universities in the world."

During the almost monthlong experience, Rose said she gained an even greater appreciation for art history, which she hopes to pursue in college. During a visit to London's National Gallery, she perused many famous works, including some by her favorite artist, Vincent Van Gogh.

"I like post-impressionism the best, and I like the colors that he uses and how emotional his works are," she said.

Parents' worries subside

Rose's mother, Paula Naughtin, said Rose's trip was nerve-racking, but valuable for both the family and her daughter.

"I worry about her when she walks downtown. On one hand, it's really hard having one kid away, especially one who has medical problems," Paula said. "But on the other hand, when you have a kid who's gone through so much, part of it is liberating."

Rose credits the Dream Factory with broadening her horizons and giving her an unforgettable experience. But, she said, it's an organization that is struggling to gain a foothold in Lawrence.

"I feel like I had a really, really amazing experience, and it's all because of them. I want more people to be able to do something like that," she said.

Volunteers, cash struggles

The Dream Factory, which is regionally based in Shawnee Mission, launched a chapter in Lawrence last fall. Despite fundraising and awareness efforts, few in Lawrence have reached out, said volunteer Ken Phipps.

"Rose's dream was to tie together going to a new country and making it somewhat educational," he said. "We're working to help grant dreams, but we need some help from people who want to step forward."

Phipps said about 20 people have signed up to volunteer for the Dream Factory, but only a handful have come to monthly meetings.

Ninety-nine dreams were granted last year in the Kansas City area. Phipps said 21 children in Douglas County have been granted dreams in the last three years.

"It takes money," he said. "We need individuals to step forward and help. As we gain more exposure, I'm sure we could get companies and businesses to be corporate sponsors, and that would help."

Paula said Rose's dream trip would not have been possible without the help of the Dream Factory. But that was only one benefit of the family's involvement with the organization.

"There's a whole lot of levels," she said. "It's not just financial help. It's a lot of emotional support with families. People know what you're going through when you have a child who's had such life-threatening illnesses."