Science Lab Opening is Dream Come True for Essex Boy

Nearly six months after the Lyons-Stratchko family was first contacted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the "Hunter's Miracle" science lab opened at Rosedale Baptist Church school.

Patch first reported the story of 

His dream came true Wednesday night.

Hunter suffers from mitochondrial disease, an incurable, crippling metabolism disorder. He's been ill his entire life, but it was only in 2010 when doctors found a diagnosis that fit all of his symptoms and moved him to a hospice program, giving him six months to a year to live.

"I was shocked. It brought tears to my eyes," said Dianna Lyons-Stratchko, Hunter's mother, as she toured the lab. "I can just picture little kids learning in here, and you know, maybe one day they'd grow up to find a cure for Hunter."

After a short ceremony, the Lyons-Stratchko family toured the completed science lab which, for the moment, is housed in a trailer behind the church on Philadelphia Road in White Marsh.

Inside, Hunter was presented with his own lab coat and went straight to work, studying slides — including a rat's eye — under the microscope, but not before Make-A-Wish Volunteer Tamara Chumley presented the family with a plaque.

"Meeting Hunter and his family has been amazing. He's such a selfless kid. This was a unique wish," Chumley said.

The newly opened lab is a testament to the efforts of the many people who wanted to see Hunter's dream come true.

Debbie Nickles, a friend of the family, had been storing 45 microscopes donated by CCBC Essex at her home for months.

After being refurbished at Baltimore Precision Instruments, they now sit on new lab tables, one with sinks and gas spigots, donated by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in a trailer donated by Wilmot Modular Structures, Inc. of White Marsh.

AML Laboratories, a histology lab in Overlea owned by family friend Angela Amatruda, donated prepared tissue slides. Several area hospitals, including Franklin Square and St. Agnes, along with Towson University donated a variety of lab equipment like beakers and test tubes.

"This outpouring of love is just unbelievable," said Stephen Stratchko, Hunter's step-father. 

Hunter, for his part, seemed awed by the support. 

"I just want to thank everybody for being here — for being a part of it," he said.  "Thank you."